When Kara was in the hospital delivering baby Zane, we had the opportunity to have Max with us for a few days. One of the best things about moving back to Utah is that the boys are getting to know their cousins. They just love Max, and Max loves them (hopefully Kara & James love it too since my boys tend to teach Max new things...)
The kids had gotten so dirty the first night, that we threw them in a bubble bath to play. They had a ball splashing and pouring and playing with toys. I snapped lots of pics, but this was my favorite - they all look so happy; hopefully it will be just one memory of many for these 3 boys.
Near the end of April, Kara was about to have her baby and really wanted to paint her nursery. She didn't really need a baby shower, but we all wanted a reason to get together...so we called our weekend meeting a "baby shower" when in reality it was a sister-niece-daughter get-to-gether to prime and paint and create a cute nursery.
When we got to Kara's house on Friday, we went right to work and only stopped for a short food break. The first night we moved out the furniture, taped, primed, and painted the first coat. The room is kind of small and even with the window open it was just a tad fumy in there which made for silliness of the highest order (don't worry, we made Kara steer clear and stay in the hallway to take pictures).
That night we were all tired, so around midnight decided to knock off...which of course didn't happen since we are girls - and sisters. I think Cami and I eventually dozed around 3am. Not good for the body, but it was great for the spirit - I sure love my sisters!
The next morning we added another coat of paint, removed the tape, and put the room back together - complete with curtains, crib, and all the other baby stuff Kara would need. The room was SO CUTE! It is amazing what a little paint and some rearranging can do to completely change the look of one room.
(BEFORE)
(AFTER)
On Saturday, we did some shopping, eating, and lots more laughing. We got a movie to watch that was so lame we turned it off after only a few minutes. Instead we played multiple rounds of Wacky 6, laughed lots, and the gals helped me finish my primary lesson for the next day.
(Back: Cami, Kara, Caitlyn; Front: Kate, Erika, Kimber)
It was a wonderful, rejuvenating weekend with the girls. These are the times when I am so grateful we moved back to Utah - I will always miss Washington in some ways, but it is so nice to be by family again.
There is a site that I follow called ourbestbites.com. It has wonderful recipes, but it also has excellent ideas for holiday foods, crafts, and just yummy creative stuff in general. Last April Fool's Day, I wanted to do some fun foods, and didn't really have a reason to so opted to not.
This year, I again, didn't have a reason to other than I wanted a fun project - and so a cupcake creation came to life. It was silly really, since none of us really like cake, and there was no way we could eat so many cupcakes even if we did. So I took them to the family party that we have after the Priesthood Session of Conference every year- funny thing is...they looked so real that the kids didn't want to touch them. LOL
Next year I will have to send them to Kimber's house since they seem to enjoy the oddness of it all. :)
The last week of May I had the opportunity to go to Ensenada Mexico to help build a home for a family in need. My brother Jim works for a company that sponsors the Homes of Hope/Youth With a Mission programs. His company paid for employees and members of their family to go to Mexico for 3 days to participate in a home build.
Our family group ended up being Mom, Kimber & her son Derek, Jim, Audi, and I. After arriving in San Diego, we rode a bus across the border and visited the Defender Direct welcoming center. Here are a few pics of our group (The first arriving at the center, the second on site):
Each day we met at the Youth With a Mission Center. We ate all of our meals at the center and were given instructions as to what would happen each day. For 2 days we worked from morning till night, only stopping for meals. The first day we painted walls, framed, wired the electrical, added windows and the door, and put up the sheet-rock. The second day we added shingles, painted the inside, added all the trim, and completed the home with furniture, cleaning supplies, food and decor.
My favorite part of the build was putting the shingles on the roof. It was hard work and I got a funny sunburn on my legs, but it was very rewarding and fun to learn a new skill.
(Isn't my nephew Derek super tall?! He is only 14 and was the tallest person on the build site.)
The whole event was full of spiritual and touching moments. Each day began with prayer, and we were able to work side by side with the family we were building for. It was a wonderful way to be reminded of just how lucky and blessed we are to live in America. The most touching part for me was the opportunity to play with the boy we were helping. His name was Rafael and he was 5 years old. It did my heart so much good to be able to help a boy that was the same age as my Korben. It was also fun that even though I spoke very little Spanish and he spoke even less English, we could still communicate with facial expressions, pointing, and a few words. I found that boys are boys no matter what culture - and entertaining boys is something I do know. :)
When the home was finished we all stood in a circle and shared the moments that impressed, touched, or just meant something to us. After each person spoke, we passed the home keys around till they eventually ended up with the new homeowners. Afterward, they got to see their finished home for the first time. We then knocked on the door and they were able to invite us in. It was a beautiful thing to see the happiness that we had created for this family. They were so kind and deserving and I know that even such a simple home will change their lives forever.
After 2 days of hard work, a family was able to start over with a new home, and we were able to leave changed for the better. It is amazing to think that a 20X30 foot home, with no plumbing, one bunk bed for the family of 4 to share, a propane stove, table and a few personal effects could be such an improvement from what the family was living in. What is even more amazing is that we in America somehow manage to complain about our living conditions! I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to be reminded of my many blessings, to be able to help bless the lives of a wonderful family, and to be able to make memories with my family in the process. Thanks Jim and company for inviting us and paying for us to have this opportunity! It is definitely one experience that I will never forget.
Our entire group - including the family - in front of the new home.
...and I am waiting for Korben to finish his chicken nuggets. That's right, nuggets.
To preface: Korben has had a horrible cough for 2 days now and for 2 nights I have not gotten a lick of sleep due to non-stop coughing and occasional puking.
At 3:30am I started looking for 24 hour urgent care centers. This was after a steam shower, vicks, cough medicine, inhaler and a vaporizer having ZERO effect on said cough. Guess how many 24 hour urgent care centers there are in Utah County? ZERO. ZIP. NADA. ZILCH. A billion kids in Pleasant Grove alone and ZERO 24 hour centers. Really?
Around 3:50 the crazed google search for home remedies started. I found one. We tried it. It worked. (Click Here for Remedy) It didn't completely get rid of the cough - but for the first time in hours Korben was getting a few minutes in between coughs. For good measure, Mike gave him a blessing and we said a prayer together. Mike was skeptical about the blessing because through the whole thing, Korben kept saying ,"In the name of..." over and over because he didn't want Mike's hands on his head. We both had a hard time holding our laughter in, but I like to think that God has a sense of humor - especially when it is 4am, you haven't had any sleep so are slap happy, and you are dealing with a special kid like Korben.
So in reality the home remedy definitely helped, but I imagine the blessing is what now has Korben sleeping - cough free for exactly 12 minutes so far.
Oh - and the nuggets were the first food he specifically asked for without prompting in 2 days. How can you deny a kiddo that?
It is now 4:52. It is silent in the house and I am off to hopefully get my first really good sleep in days. Yay!
Korben has hit one of his bursts of speech development again and the result this time around has made for lots of laughter. All of his little conversations stem from something he has been taught, or seen, but his take on all of it is quite amusing:
1) After playing Mario Kart Wii at his cousin's house:
K: Mommy we need to buy Mario Kart Wii.
Me: Well that costs a lot of money Korben.
K: Does it cost 1 cent?
Me: Nope, it costs a lot more than that.
K: 3 cents?
Me: Nope, even more than that.
K: 100 cents?!
Me: Korben, 100 cents is the same as 1 dollar. Mario Kart Wii will cost about 200 dollars.
K: >with raised eyebrow< Hmmm...Well then Daddy needs to go to work.
2)Monday morning:
K: Mommy?
Me: Yes, Korben?
K: I am a Mormon - just like Jesus.
Me: >stifling laughter< Yes Korben, yes you are. :)
3)After talking about families at school and having Jared live with us for 8 months:
K: Mommy, you are my mommy and Kate.
Me: That's true Korben.
K: And Daddy is daddy and Mike.
Me: Yep - that's true too.
K: And Logan is my brother.
Me: Yes he is.
K: And Jared is my other brother.
Me: Haha - no Korben, Jared is your uncle.
K: Oh. He's my uncle brother?
Me: No, just your uncle. :)
4) After hearing the Easter story and watching Tangled:
This one had us laughing for days. For our Easter FHE we made a cute craft where you make a paper cup look like Heaven (with blue paper and cotton balls) and then you can pull Jesus up into "Heaven" (on a string) after He is Resurrected. After his was finished, Korben started singing the flower song from Tangled as he rose Jesus to heaven and then said:
"Mommy, Jesus died. And then He was in the tomb. And then 3 days later Rapunzel sang and Jesus was alive again." (It worked for Flynn Ryder so I suppose he figured it would work for Jesus too.) Haha
5) After learning about different titles for girls and boys at school and having parents with a 9 year age difference:
K: Daddy, you are an old man.
Mike: Ok...ouch.
K: And Mommy is a young lady.
Me: Hahahahahahahahaha...Oh, sorry Mike. :S
6) No idea where he got this:
Me: Here you go Korben.
K: Why, thank you Captain Mommy!
7) We have been working with him for a while to not say "water like ice" when he wants ice water:
K: Mommy, can I have water...WITH ice?
Me: Sure Korben. You can also call it ice water.
K: Um... That's just silly Mommy.
I just love my Korbenator.
The other day he wanted to take pictures - so here we are in all our glory.
