What a Day

This post is not about Christmas nor is it for the weak of stomach.

Tuesday started out to be a great day.  I was pretty caught up on all the Christmas stuff.  I didn't have to be home at noon because Kelsey didn't have preschool.  So it was off to the mall with my sister for some wandering.  Everyone was happy.

My car has been acting up and on the way to the mall it did its silly little twitch.  This was sort of a good thing because now my check engine light was back on and I was near the dealership.  I decided to take care of this after my leisurely stroll in the mall.

After a good time it was time to get a certain kiddo back home for his nap.  So out to the car we go.  I start up the car and begin to leave the parking lot when in the middle of the lot my car just dies.  In my mind I am trying to figure out what to do.  I am blocking several parked cars whose owners are probably frantic last minute shoppers.  I am trying to imagine how I will be able to move my huge Tahoe into a parking stall all by myself.  Luckily I turn off the car and try to start it again.  It starts so I make my way to the chevy dealership.

At the dealership I am getting the car all checked in and begin to pile all the crap I need to transfer to the shuttle (I was not planning on doing this errand that day).  I pull Braden out of the car as I am waiting for the attendant to come back.  Braden is acting really tired and laying on me when all of the sudden he pukes all over me in the middle of the service garage.  It is all over my wool coat, in my hair and all over him.  At least it is not in my car nor in his car seat, right.  Now for those who don't know I can't stand hot dogs because one time when I was little I threw up hot dogs all over my Halloween costume because I was so excited to go trick or treating.  Guess what Braden had for lunch.  The poor shuttle driver had to drive this stinky crew to my house.  I was just praying that Braden would last until we got home.  I guess I didn't have enough faith because a minute from home Braden gets his car seat.  I felt so bad for that poor 19 year old driver.  Hopefully he thinks twice before doing something that could bring him a child too soon.

The rest of the day was okay once Braden was cleaned up and down for a nap and I was showered.  Then he woke up.  This one event created a longer chain of events that meant lots of laundry for me and a second car seat requiring cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing.

The next morning Braden woke up and seemed to be returning to normal.  He was not pale and had more energy and ate a little bit.  By night he was playing around and seemed to be close to mended.  Since this was the case we still had my family over to watch the Utah football game.  Well that was not all. 

This morning after waking up happy, energetic, and eating a good breakfast, Mr. Uker thought he better put on another show.  I cleaned him up and left him in his diaper to tackle the carpet.  Mr. Uker saw the perfect opportunity and seized it.  He stripped off his diaper and ran through the house to find his sisters. (He did throw the diaper away for me.)  My dilemma at this point; do I catch him, diaper him and cloth him before he pees on the floor (this is his knew trick after showers these days) or do I quickly tackle the awful stench emanating from the playroom? 

Don't worry it all worked out.  I just wish I knew what was going on with him.  He has been the most pleasant sick kid.  He laughs and plays (the energy is definitely diminished).  He eats and drinks some.  He has no fever and yesterday there was no symptoms.  All I am hoping for is this is not something anyone else will show up with on Christmas Eve, Christmas or the day we plan on doing family pictures.  I am working on my faith from the car ride from the dealership.  By the way the car is all fixed and it only cost me $600 at Christmas time.  The nissan was only $3500 when we were on our Disneyland trip.  We just love to throw money out the window during times of big spending.

Happy Birthday Kelsey

Not sure who decided to have a child a so soon after Halloween, but it can easily get lost in the Halloween chaos.  If that happens you have to quickly abandon all Halloween and get to the stores to buy some gifts.  If you wanted a friend party, good luck getting it organized.  Luckily this year I planned ahead.

Kelsey had a Scooby-Doo birthday.  She received Scooby-Doo movies, scooby-doo figures, a scooby-doo coloring book.  Braden even came dressed as Scooby.  Just kidding, he didn't.  Besides Scooby-Doo she received a dog she can walk. Mom is not ready to give in to real animals.  Not sure when that time will ever come.  (We still have fish if anyone wants fish.)  Grandma gave her a cowgirl hat and cowgirl boots (don't call them "cowboy").  She has worn those boots everyday since.  She even wears them to church.

She had her first friend birthday party and guess what the theme was.  If you guessed Tangled, you were wrong.  It was a Scooby-Doo party complete with a mystery that we had to solve.  While we were eating pizza someone took all the presents.  The kids had to find clues to find the presents.  They hunted down scooby snacks, popped balloon ghosts and broke open a pinta.  In the end it was dad with the laundry bag in the trunk of his car.

How's that for cake skills?  No judging.

PS I had every intention of having her send out Thank you cards.  I even took a picture with her and each guest to make the cards, but someone didn't have great follow through this year.  Christmas cards are falling into that category.

Halloween

Halloween was so long ago that I can't remember any cute stories.  I just remember it lasting forever because Halloween was on a Sunday.  The weekend went as follows.  Girls school Halloween parties on Thursday because there was no school on Friday.  Friday we visited dad's work for a little trick-or-treating.  Then it was "wear your costume to dance class"day followed by a church party with trunk-or-treating.  But that is not all, oh not that is not all.  After the church party we went to a neighbors Halloween party.  This was one event the whole family dressed up for.  Saturday was the day we took the kids trick-or-treating but we went out to grandma's neighborhood since we knew most people there.  Then the kids go to go with their cousin.  Macy outlasted them all.  It was a cold night and I think she could have gone all night.  The first ones to head back home were Brian and Braden (couldn't let the little man walk home alone).  Then Kelsey had to go to the bathroom (surprise, surprise).  After being in the house Kelsey and Jensen felt they had plenty of candy and didn't want to go back out in the cold.  Kelsey is a little like her mom in regards to the temperature. However people, take note as to who is still with Macy.  That's right, her mother stayed out in the cold for another 30 minutes to an hour.  That is the second year in a row.  The Utes have played on the trick-or-treating night last year and this year, so I sacrificed so Brian could watch.  I am a saint.

 The family before a Halloween party.  Macy was our photographer.

 The pictures are not the best.  Not sure why.  It could be because the camera was dropped 2 weeks before Halloween and isn't up to par anymore.  So guess what we bought ourselves for Christmas this year.

 The three amigos or witches.  Whatever you prefer.

 The cutest Scooby-Doo ever.  He could not get enough candy.  He was lovin' this holiday.  He would shout out and still does "nandy, nandy" until he was given more.  He was so good at wearing his costume.  I worried about the purchase because it was a little more than I like to spend for costumes.  I envisioned him screaming bloody murder and wearing it for only 5 seconds.  He spent many hours in the costume and it didn't seem to bother him.  It was a little more fitting than a tutu.  Which reminds me of a cute story. 


A shot from above.  Isn't the costume the cutest?

 The morning of the school parties the girls were getting into their costumes which included a tutu.  Braden saw Macy put hers on.  Then he saw Kelsey pull hers on.  He started throwing a fit and grabbing at the skirts yelling "tutu, tutu".  He was devastated that he couldn't wear a tutu.  I draw the line at letting him out in public in a purple or pink tutu.  He has been known to wear them around the house.