Another one bites the dust

Poor little Aust is the latest to get the eye junk running through our house. So far Austin has had the worst case of us all.  He has both eyes hit at the same time AND he developed a complication called Filamentary keratitis .

This basically means that the mucus in his eye adhered to the epithelial cells of the cornea which causes the outer layer of the cornea to slough off when he blinks.  It hurts a lot.  Rustin had to numb his eye and peel the filaments off the cornea.  If you look closely you can see that his tears are bloody.  ouch.

Dallin hasn't had any infection so far.  Either he will get lucky or he will come down with red eyes just as school starts.  Knowing our luck I would bet on the latter.

We are busy enjoying the last couple of weeks of summer. Too much to do and not enough time for sure!

There are no changing tables at the Sun Valley symphony...

On Tuesday night we went to the Sun Valley symphony's performance of Mahler's 1st symphony.  While I loved the music, there is something about the Sun Valley crowd that is completely irritating.  I felt out of place.

 I would have fit in perfectly if I had whitened my teeth, tanned my skin a few shades darker, put on my giant diamond earrings and worn a white linen skirt with a sherbet colored sweater draped over my shoulders.

 And of course I should have thought to find a cute little dog to bring as an accessory as well because apparently I missed the memo that says that children aren't to be tolerated at concerts but dogs are totally welcome.  My goodness.

 The minute we stepped foot under the canopy I felt the collective 'snap' of the heads of every usher in the room sending me their "you wouldn't dare bring a child in here would you..."  looks.  One chartreuse-sweater clad gentleman grumbled "no babies allowed in here" as I ushered Jenna and Dallin and Landon up to the row where my parents were waiting.  sheesh.

 Jackson and I sat on the grass and completely enjoyed the concert without worrying about offending anyone.  Maybe I'm a little hyper-sensitive.


 Having complained about the attitudes of some of the concert-goers, I must say that  the symphony is extraordinary and the sound is just amazing.  We've been to a couple of these symphonies now and the music is definitely worth the drive and even worth feeling a little second class.

Last summer we went to see Itzhak Perlman and it was an awesome experience.  To see that great Jewish man whose body is crippled from the effects of polio play the theme song from Schindler's List was unforgettable.

 The entire place was absolutely silent while Mr. Perlman painfully and slowly walked out on to the stage with his crutches and took a few minutes to get situated.  Once he began to play the place was transformed.  It really was so. beautiful.  I don't know how they engineer the sound under the canopy but I've never heard anything like it.

The Mahler symphony this summer was stunning as well.  We saw/heard the Utah Symphony play Mahler's 1st symphony a couple of years ago and we were completely impressed but I have to say (my dad agrees!) this was even better.

Overall I have to say that I am grateful to the Sun Valley community for providing and sharing beautiful things with the world even if I have to sit on the grass.

Plain old summer. August 8-14

We had a great plain old summer week. We ate lots of purple potatoes from my dad's garden and lots of raspberry jam from my mom's raspberries.

We had a visit from Trevor and Ashlee and Collin and from Emily and baby Sam and of course Beck,Jer, Ethan and Mia..

We went to our favorite water park..er..canal {the drops in Shoshone} and we went to see the movie "The Help" which is still making me chuckle.

Summer is wrapping up way too early.

Jackson is rolling all over the place which makes me sad for some reason. Little pill bug.  Is it just because he's the last that I feel this way?  We are still loving nursing which is a big milestone for me.  I have always lost my milk at about four months with the other kids so this little guy is going to have to nurse until he's five to make up for lost time!

Sometimes the thought of backpacks and papers and homework makes me hyperventilate.  I am in the process of reorganizing all our school stuff and I have a million plans to organize all the closets in the house.  I'll report if we actually have success!

If at first you don’t succeed…

Watching Jackson lately is like watching a caterpillar hatch from a chrysalis.  It is complete torture not to reach in and help.  That moment when he is just  about all the way over  but his little arm is still stuck underneath?  That is the moment when I can barely stop myself from reaching in.  The only thing that keeps me from intervening is that look of pride mixed with surprise when he does it all alone.


I think the times I spend watching my kids do difficult things alone are my hardest mothering moments.  I am one of those moms who goes through the whole house covering everyone up because I woke up cold.  I always will.  And I will probably always be proof reading papers at 10 pm and combing knots out of Barbie’s hair…


 I have seen the growth and compassion that comes from struggle—learning to read, ride a bike, tie shoes, talk to a new friend—my kids have been through all kinds of painful experiences that have helped them grow and I wouldn't change it.  I love watching them grow in every way but I wouldn't mind if they would slow down a little.

Cold Turkey. {August 1-7}

Sometimes we need to detox from electronics.  There’s no easy way to do it so we just pull the plug. Anyone who knows us knows for which child this is most difficult (and necessary).  Can anyone guess?

Getting rid of video games makes us really productive. 

The kids make their beds without being asked…

They pick up all their toys…

And they smile all day.

Just kidding on this picture.  Jenna took this self-portrait for fun—she’s actually been having a blast playing with Benson (and Rustin!) this week.

Dallin and Landon were at EFY this last week.  I actually sent them to EFY just so we could have the music CD.  I’m listening as we speak. 

A few outcomes of a week of EFY—

Both boys have learned to text {that unlimited text plan is on its way…last night Rustin asked Dallin who he was texting with and he said he wasn’t sure—two girls at the same time}.

The boys gave a great family home evening tonight about “becoming.”

We have been practicing swing dance moves all week in anticipation of the next stake dance. Jenna is going to get more dance practice than any girl I know with all these brothers!

  Jack still has an infected eye but the rest of us are doing much better.  Viva la summer!

One little, two little, three little cyclops...

Our adventures with adenovirus a.k.a. EKC (epidemic keratoconjunctivitis)

And possibly the saddest hing I have ever seen--a baby with his little eye glued shut in the morning.  

  Rustin's eyes aren't red anymore but his corneas are full of white blood cell infiltration which is the precursor to corneal ulcers so he (we) will all be using steroids for the next few weeks.  Wish us luck!

8 seconds and other adventures

This last weekend we went to Oakley to stay with our friends the Justesens.

When I say we I mean everyone except Rustin.  He spent most of the weekend home looking like this...

He has keratoconjunctivitis which is one rotten  adenovirus eye infection.  It is extremely contagious and very painful.  This is day 6 of the joy.  Rustin is holed up in our bedroom to keep from spreading the fun--we are really missing our dad around here.    

So, the rest of us headed to Oakley and the kids' rodeo on Thursday.  Austin and Benson rode the calves and steers. Their 8 second attempt was more like 2 seconds but it was fun!  Dallin and Landon were signed up to ride the junior bulls but by 10:30 pm with barrels and team roping still to go we called it quits.

The kids spent Saturday playing in the pond, catching frogs, riding four-wheelers and shooting bows and arrows.  And of course Saturday night was the big dance for the twenty-fourth of July.  

Neil and Rustin were mission companions in Portugal. It's amazing how some friendships just stick. 

And remember my favorite cookbook author...

Neil grew up on the ranch next door to the Pioneer Woman in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.  How's that for trivia!

If I had this view out my kitchen window I would never stop doing the dishes.  

And the rest of their home is just as beautiful.  Big thanks to Neil and Ginger for a great weekend.