Earthquake update

Just as an update.  We're still doing fine even with the after shocks so far.  We have some friends in the area that was hit hardest.  They are in a tented area for people from that area and are being asked to stay nearby while waiting to hear if they can make it into their house or not.  I felt fortunate to pray with my family and to thank my Heavenly Father to have running water and a roof over my head.

All of the schools are closed today, so we went to the park.  Whenever I go there is never more than 2 other kids in the park at one time.  It was chuck full of kids because the schools are closed and the recommendation is to stay outside for as long as possible in case of more aftershocks.

As the kids were playing in the sandbox I saw a girl with two blisters on her foot.  I thought "poor girl got a blister from her shoes".  Then she said to her friend, "look!  I have chicken pox!"  She did indeed.  So I figured out who her mom was and asked her if her daughter was still contagious.  She said "no, no.  It's been 11 days already"

I quickly took my kids out of the sandbox, walked home and gave them the biggest bubble bath of their life.  I'm pretty sure if you still have blisters that you're contagious.  If my 9 month old baby gets it from this little girl I'm going to be really ticked at her mom!  Granted it was only the boys in the sand box, but they pass everything to Isabel.

2nd Earthquake in 9 days

We just had our second earthquake in 9 days.  A little nerve racking to think about.  I personall didn't feel it this time.  I was struggling/fighting with kids to get shoes on and get out the door and didn't feel anything.  My brother-in-law works on the other side of the city and he felt it at about 6.0.  He called to make sure we were ok and that's when I first heard about it.  After that my cellphone service went out.  I left Jordan at school which is about a 10 minute walk from here.  I tried to text family members to let them know what happened and to say we are ok but again, my phone doesn't work.  Kind of crazy that I move from an area full of fault lines to an area that hasn't had anything in over 400 years and now we feel 2 in a little over a week.

The Marshmallow Experiment

I love this video by Mormon Messages where they give kids a marshmallow to see if they can wait long enough to get a second one before eating it.  It's the second video.  I accidently downloaded the wrong one (but still a very good one).  So watch the second video.  I thought it would be fun to try the same experiment with my kids.  Unfortunately the batteries on my camera died and I didn't have any more, so the video I got was short.

 Aaron suprised me and made it to almost 10 minutes of waiting.  This kid has a SWEET TOOTH just like his mamma and he has been known more than once to get into the sugar/honey/hidden candy in the house.  Thanks for suprising me Aaron!

Jordan is 3!

 Well, Jordan is 3!  I can't believe that my baby boy is 3 and so much fun.  I had a friend email and say "I can remember when he was born so well".  To tell the truth most of my brain is a fog with Isabel not letting me sleep much.  I can barely remember yesterday, let alone the last 3 years. ;0

I made a happy birthday crown and put it with Jordan's breakfast.  Aaron wanted one too.  Within 10 minutes of taking these pictures, Aaron licked Jordan's crown (I presume to make him mad, but then again, Aaron does funny things not intending to be mean).  Jordan got made that his crown was licked and crumpled it up in frustration.  Oh well.  Tough luck.

 Any guesses as to what this cake is?  I saw the idea here.  The picture they had was very cute, but Aaron and I weren't able to reproduce their Rembrandt of a cake, but sure had fun trying.  In case you're wondering it was supposed to be a dragon.

 The candle on Jordan's cake was from our friend Saleh.  They moved back to Libya, but left us the candle that we had used for his birthday.  Wish they could have been here with us.  Wish all of our friends and family could have been here.

 This is my Jordan.  He is silly.  He is the entertainer and likes to make other people laugh.  Sometimes I'd swear I gave birth toa ping pong ball (although it hurt a whole lot more than that) because of the way he bounces everywhere.  He doesn't walk like most kids.  He bounces, or dances, or ninja's his way to wherever he goes.  Love having Jordan in my family.  It's a priviledge (and some days a challenge) to be his mother and to try and teach  him how to be happy, how to make good choices, how to control himself, how to give, how to love.  The funny thing about being a mother is that sometimes I think I'm teaching, but in reality we learn together.  Thank you for being my sweet boy Jordan!

I couldn't leave out my sweet Isabel (who got a fever during the day of festivities).

Earthquake

This morning at 4:10 a.m. I was awoken by what felt like someone physically shaking the couch back and forth. (I was passed out on the couch because after the 10th time that Isabel woke up, I thought I'd sleep there so at least the hubby could rest).  It only lasted a few seconds.  I said a fervent prayer for my family and kids.  I filled the empty water bottles in the kitchen, and shortly after fell back asleep with  no more shaking.  Just a reminder that we're small, and fortunately in the hands of God.

bubbles and peek-a-boo

These are just two quick videos.  One of Isabel trying to play peek-a-boo.  She also does this funny thing with her hands where she looks like she is riding a motorcycle.

Aaron has found the joy of blowing bubbles (and not spilling the whole thing- something that Jordan still struggles with).  I will soon have pictures of Jordan too. :)

Doing better...

 More or less the sickness is gone.  Isabel's getting yet MORE teeth which means she's waking up unconsolable multiple times a night, and I'm not sleeping.  Can't wait for all of those teeth to make a grand entrance... :~)

In sickness and in health

Poor Isabel is sick with bilateral conjunctivitis.  Her eyes were literally glued shut this morning and I had to give her a bath to get all the crap out.  She's also had a high fever (not related to the eye infection).  She's got a red throat and we're waiting it out to see how she does.  I feel so bad when I see her like this.

 Not only is the cold making the rounds at our house, but our car decided to die.  The boys were REALLY excited to see the tow truck!  We'll be excited when it works again.  It feels very handicapping to not have a car!

 This is Aaron who "fixed" our car yesterday. :)  Putting these crazy socks on his hands made me laugh.  What you can't see is that he is wearing my running shoes (gigantic on him).

 Jordan has grown up over night.  He's gotten taller, and I think his face doesn't look much like a baby face anymore.  Kind of sad.  My baby boy is getting so big!

Isabel is still pretty stationary, but the last two days she's started scooting a little.  She bounces so much while sitting that it scoots her across the rug.