Sailing past Buffalo

Getting ready to sail is so much work. From leaving our house to getting in the water (right by our house) is usually 2 hours. I have a hard time maintaining the vision of why we are doing this. The kids are running around the marina, the sail is heavy for me to stand there and hold while Brent builds his boat, and I keep asking myself, "Is this fun?" And then when we finally get in the water our 11 year old starts in screaming.

Kennon decided on the first day out that she HATES sailing!

But we coerced her to come along this time, because we wanted to take a family picture sailing past downtown Buffalo. We hoped to pass our camera off to a passing sail boat but hardly any boats came within passing distance and they wouldn't have been able to hear our request over Kennon's screams, anyway.

Seriously. Brent was ready to throw her out, just like she wanted.

"Get me out of this boat right now!"

Yes, it was a perfect afternoon for a family sail. Almost all of us loved it. Kennon and her sisters had been playing dress up that morning. So with the tears came the mascara running down her cheeks. She hid behind the towel and finally went to the bottom of the boat and tried in vain to relax. She seriously will never be forced to sail with us again. The boat is listed and has already had five different interested parties. This was the very last sail.I brought Marcus's car seat along but he was happier roaming the boat while Kennon chased after him screaming that we were being unfit parents and needed to watch him.

Speaking of cheeks, the other thing that infuriates Kennon is that we ever allowed Caroline to take her favorite position at the front of the boat. This girl was born to sail the high seas.

But she also retreated to the cabin when Savannah pointed out a pirate ship (a large sail boat with three sails) on the horizon. After that she stayed below frozen in a little corner and refused to come out till we got back to safety of the marina. Even though the rest of us tried to convince her that they probably weren't pirates after all and besides that they had sailed away.

How come this is turning into somewhat of a child abuse post instead of a record of our great family outing?

I did most of the actual sailing. I finally figured out if I am steering I don't get seasick.
We didn't get back until after 7 and it was really chilly by that time. The kids didn't seem to notice the temperature and went swimming in the marina while we took down the sails.
We are sad to end the chapter on our sailboat days. Though they have been rocky at times, we will look back with fond memories I am sure.

Last family sail

Before the boat is gone forever, we took a final sale into the buffalo harbor. Some of us had fun. One of us screamed and screamed to sail her back to shore.
Savannah took the first video, btw. Brent took the second one as we sailed by buffalo.

When I tried to withdraw money at the bank drive-thru yesterday they informed me that my WA state driver's license expired last February. It was a little embarrassing since I happened to be chatting across cars with the girls ballet teacher, and she also heard the teller make the announcement.

Caroline had spotted her first. She had her back to us talking to her husband in their car, but Caroline could almost recognize her. She kept saying, "Mom, I think it's Miss Claire, but I need to see her lips!" Then she turned and sure enough, it was her and as always she had bright red lips. Even after dancing for hours, her lips never change. Always red lipstick. It's her signature.

Am I supposed to check my own expiration date? Isn't the state's job to let you know when your time's up? Maybe they don't send the renewal letter to out of staters like myself. Then I turned the license over and noticed something else for the first time. Please notify us within 10 days of moving out of state.

I figured I was going to be fined, have to pay extra, or at the very least be required to take a test since I had let it expire.

Nope. Very same rate -$45. Too bad that I'll only be in the state another year. And you know since I invested in the card it has to last another 4 years no matter where we go. Worked with my for the last 3 years with my Washington card.

I waited for 1 1/2 hours at the DMV with my two youngest running in every direction. Everyone kept smiling at their energy and telling me they had one or two at home just like 'em. At home. What a good idea. Too bad for me.

It's official, though. I am a New Yorker.

I'm starting to think that it is safer to write about trips after the fact rather than before or during . . . just in case.

So now I can mention that Brent left us home alone all last weekend. He took a quick drive down to Tennessee with Richard and Dave, other dental students, to offer his services at a free dental clinic. Does that make any sense that they would drive 22 hours in three days just to stand all day for two of those days with their hands in the mouths of some miserable Tennesseans? All this so they could, "pull a TON OF TEETH!" Whoo hoo! They have huge bragging fests whenever they come back from these and the question always seems to be, "How many did you pull?"

Well, Brent absolutely enjoyed the drive, the pulling of the teeth, and especially the company. He came home at 2 am. Monday morning and fell into bed for about 5 hours of sleep before he had to be back at clinic at 9 a.m.

While he was gone we had us a girl's weekend and participated in all the forbidden activities like YARD SALES! . . . thrift center browsing . . . and a pizza buffet. When it comes to yard sales and thrift centers Brent is extremely contradictory. He can't understand why I go to them, because we "Don't need anything!" But just as many times as I have heard him say not to go browsing, I could count equally the times I have bought something new and he can be counted on to say, "Isn't that something you could've picked up at a yard sale for dirt cheap?"

So I go.

When he is out of town.

Or I just don't mention when I do since I know the thought of me browsing makes him so nervous.

When we all got back together last night our monday night family consisted of a
KFC Feast - all the way from Tennesee. Brent made it home with 6 pieces (from the lunch provided before they left) to share with his girls and they were APPRECIATED! I was a little nervous about the 11 hour drive, but I was vetoed and they were all eaten. . after I cooked them for another 30 min to kill the bacteria growth.

I forgot to mention

The Puch is gone! Stolen right off the dental school bike rack in broad daylight while Brent was working in the clinic just inside. After all the miles, all the hours tinkering making repairs, and inventing ways to make it faster . . some brazen thief cut the chain and rode off. Two weeks later Brent's still in shock and his girl Caroline is just starting to get over her tears. She liked to ride it too.

On the bright side. . . No puch. . . No Pooch. :) Brent is biking the 12 mile round trip to school now and sweating both ways.

And, I also forgot to update my sciatica status. It is a MIRACLE. Thanks to a podiatrist who told me to wear SNEAKERS and $30 arch support orthotic inserts. Within a week of being an obedient patient the sciatica DISAPPEARED! Remember I have had some pretty intense pain since last August whenever I was driving or at rest.

Some days I am lazy and put on my cushiest flip flops for a few hours. It's summer, I really can't help it. But, by that night it's coming back. So I repent and put my sneakers on the next morning. And my back, leg and foot are perfect again. I am just so happy! I thought I would have this the rest of my life. I still drive with my left leg. It's becoming natural and I'm too scared to go back to the right leg.

On the downside, I have to wear these totally mom shoes all the time. I make an exception for church and the beach and maybe eventually I can wear pretty shoes a little more often. I find I am really into shoes lately and noticing all the feminine feet around me. I am so envious of women in pretty little flats and strappy sandals.

Ooooh. . . . well. . . At least I won't be shoe shopping. Luckily Kennon is almost to my size and I can give her my pretty shoes.

Anyway, you might want to consider your feet if you are having aches and pains. As my podiatrist told me- You have to take care of the roots of your tree.
Speaking of trees. . . here's a picture of Kennon in our's. She read on our blog a few posts back that I couldn't find a recent picture of her. Ever since then she and Savannah have stayed busy at backyard photo shoots. Now we have ton's of Kennon's cluttering up my desktop. They are getting to be quite the photographers and enhancers. So I guess I am off the hook and we'll hand it over to them. I always forget to take pictures.

30 minutes from home and across the border

big beach boy

freezing Lake Erie water

A perfect day at the beach at 14 months

Laying and kickin' it up
sand showers with your two little hands

In eyes, nose and mouth. . . I think I am in love!
All afternoon till momma scoops you up and drags you from the beach. I hope these freckles last

Memorial Day we split up. I took four of them to Crystal Beach. Savannah and her Dad went sailing with our neighbor Staci and sons. It was Brent's way of saying thanks for storing our boat in their tiny backyard the last 8 months. They sailed the same lake we beached at but on the Buffalo side and nowhere near us. Nevertheless, every boat that passed by, Caroline hollered out, "There's Dad!"

May 23rd finally arrives for Sweet Caroline

(Thanks Kristen for this photo and great editing job!)

After months of "How much longer till my birthday?" question every morning, the big day finally arrived and Caroline is now 5! We partied pretty hard and probably wore her Grandma C. out.
Ella, Alison and Caroline all had a birthday within three days of each other so we celebrated with some friends from primary at Alison's house. Teresa and I made a balloon bouquet of cupcakes to bring.


Ella is 3, Alison is 4, and Caroline is 5.

In Junior primary in our ward there are only 5 girls. All 4 of them are in the sunbeam class, and Caroline sits behind them with all the boys in her class. And another row of 7 boys behind her. She was so happy to have a princess crown and be with girlfriends for the day.
The next day was May 23rd and Camille made her a new birthday crown. Caroline has been repeating that date over and over again ever since Kindergarten orientation when she met her principal. She only asked her one question, "When is your birthday, Caroline?" After failing the test I taught it to her and she won't ever forget it now. We were all quite sick of May 23rd before it even arrived.
She spent the day opening a present from all her sisters. And running around showing off the $5 dollars her Great Grandma Pieper sent to her in a letter. Grandma C. sat her down to have a discussion about savings and tithing. When she found out that 2 whole quarters of the money needed to be given to the bishop she was very upset and cried out, "Why didn't Grandma send me more money then?"

A couple years ago for Christmas we gave the kids this three wheeler we found at our favorite As Is Salvation army store for 2 bucks because it didn't work. That is until Brent charged it with his drill battery and it now runs for about an hour at fast walking speed. We haven't had it out since last summer and it was the perfect birthday toy to pull out of the basement. I ran all over the neighborhood trying to keep up with her and Marcus even got a ride.

She wanted a crown cake that we saw on Familyfun.com. She talked about her "prown cake" all week. Yes, she is the same old Caroline with a very unique lisp. After making cupcakes I was weary and dreaded more decorating.
I sent Brent to the store to get me sugar cookie dough to save me some time. He came home with chocolate chip cookies instead of dough for sugar cookies? ? ?
I did my best improvising and threw this one together in 5 minutes, minus the princess crown. I was sure she was going to be so dissapointed. I guess I forgot she is 5. She came in, took a look and was thrilled! She ran and got the crown she got from Alison's mom, plopped it on top, and the "prown cake" was complete.

I am sure that Caroline is the happiest, sweetest little 5 year old ever "I ever saw". Just ask anyone who sits in front of her in church, if they are so lucky. Whoever they are, about 5 minutes into the meeting they find a soft hand on their back giving them the best back rub you ever saw. Turn around to find out who's hand is on your back and you will get the biggest smile you ever saw.
This "I ever saw" stuff is true blue Caroline language. A couple days with Grandma C. and she declared. "Grandma, you are the best Grandma I ever saw!" I told Grandma she was lucky. There are only 2 other people that have made it to the "best I ever saw" category. Dad and I.

She overheard me and said, "No, mom. You are not the best I ever saw. Grandma is."

VISITORS!!

It's been almost 2 full years since this boy has been home to see his Momma. She couldn't stand it and decided it was high time to fly across the country and pay him a visit. Our visitors have been few and far in between. . .and always much appreciated.

Fortunately for us, she needed a traveling buddy and brought Brent's sister Teresa along. We owe a lot to these two people. Without them our stay here in Buffalo might never have been possible. Mama Jo loaned us the money for our house, and Teresa and her husband Bret run our farm out west.
I had grand plans for touring the countryside but our visitors were pretty content to just hang out close to home. We worked hard to convince them that they couldn't go home without visiting our beautiful falls nearby. We like to go the falls in the evening. The pictures turn out real nice and the parking is free after 8. Kennon stayed home to put Marcus to bed. She would prefer that to riding in the trunk of the van, I guess.
The first day we heard some commotion a block away and walked over to see the demolition of a neighborhood house from start to finish. It's pretty interesting to see them do this when the homes on each side are only an arm's length away. The town has demolished a handful of homes in our little neighborhood in the last year and are rebuilding nice homes in the lots. This is when you know you are outside the Buffalo line. So much for the Hood, eh?

After about 10 minutes Teresa, the kids, and I had seen plenty. . . but Brent's mom refused to walk away until it was flattened completely. So I found out right away that these guests were going to be easy to entertain.

One day we surprised Brent for lunch and got the grand tour of his dental school.
While there we realized that we had never taken a picture in front of the dental school Buffalo so Teresa took one for us.

Brent worked hard to convince them to take a sail down the Niagara River in his boat. They must read our blog or something because they absolutely refused.

They weren't completely unadventurous however. Teresa went up to the tippy tops of the tree house her brother built with Caroline and Camille.
(I had to zoom up so you could see them. If I wouldn't they would just be tiny dots)
Then Brent decided it was time to take Marcus up to see the house in the trees that he has desperately tried to reach several times before he is yanked off the ladder. We found out that he is just the right size to squeeze between the cracks. Don't worry, though. He will not be up again. Thanks so much for coming! We love you!
Brent's mom exchanged promises with him before she left. First he had to promise that he would drive safely around Buffalo and back to Washington this summer. Then out of the blue she said she promised to send him some Rogaine and said she was so sorry she hadn't done it earlier.

We were due for an adventure

Brent finished his third year officially last Thursday and we both wanted to celebrate. He wanted a long nap and a quiet house. I wanted a fun dad to take us all on a family adventure. In the end, after a little nagging, I won.

We packed the van with kids and a picnic lunch and headed off Friday afternoon just as the rain clouds began rolling in. I had read a blog about a family outing in Chestnut Ridge Park and have been dying to go there with the kids to hike up to the waterfall of the Eternal Flame. According to this blogger, it was a great outing for the whole family. He had a 2 sons under 6 and had taken them there.

We started off the hike with a picnic lunch in the pouring rain. It got so bad we finally ditched the picnic table for shelter under a tree. Caroline had to go and in the process of assisting her she sprayed all over the back over her pants. Then Camille had to go and I was began thinking that maybe I am not as adventurous as I thought I was that morning.

After about 10 minutes under the tree the rain let up and we took a vote if we should pack it up or proceed with the hike. Our 1.5 mile trail ahead looked really muddy. It was 5-1 to go ahead, Kennon was the lone objector. No surprise.

So, off we went. In 2 minutes we were in the creek, had soggy sneakers, and were all having a great time.

Turns out that almost the entire hike is down the creek bed. I now remembered that he recommended taking this hike in the winter or late fall. We weren't swimming, but let's just say by the end, Caroline wasn't the only one with a wet bum. Marcus was mad he had to be held and couldn't wade with the rest of the kids. Here is a rare moment that we set him down just for a photo op.

The big finale is at the end of the hike. I was busy wading and admiring the view when suddenly I realized my children were climbing up the face of the waterfall! Turns out that's how you get out of there. (Unless you want to hike the mile back through the creek.) So that's Caroline 1/2 way up the wall. When I came later with Brent and Marcus I was amazed that no one fell. It was steep and slippery. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under 8. But we all made it!
It's hard to see, but behind Marcus and I is the natural gas vent that is lit right behind the falls. I can't figure out how anyone ever found it and lit it in the first place.
I am amazed at the beauties all around us living here in Western NY. There is always an aventure to be found just a few miles away.

I love to write and thus have fully embraced blogging.
But it's hard for me to justify the time commitment unless the primary focus is keeping a family record. Sometimes I think -Why am I making our lives so public? This stuff should just be in a journal. Then I can record more personal stuff and don't have to worry about what is and isn't appropriate.

But I just like blogging a whole lot more. Back in the old days I kept baby book journals and scrapbooks for the kids and a personal journal for myself. The kids got an entry once a month and mine usually once a year, or whenever Brent and I had a huge fight and there was really no one else to talk to.

So I am committed to blogging. It might embarrass us some of the time, bore you a lot of the time, but when I look back and read past posts I am so glad I did it. I have never later regretted a post no matter how silly it seemed to post at the time. I am so grateful that my memories haven't been lost. Whatever gets the job done! And it's just more fun to have an audience -no matter how small that audience may be.

Last week I attended parent teacher conferences for my three daughters. They had such good reports that we celebrated at their favorite chinese buffet afterwards. We've tried to cut back on that place since Kennon turned 11 and no longer gets in at half price, but somehow we keep averaging a girls lunch there once a month. We usually go without Brent and tell him later. If we ask him he'll just talk us out of it.

Kennon missed her teacher conference so she could stay home and babysit Marcus for me. Her teacher first gave me a note she had written welcoming me to her conference. It summed up how she was doing in 5th grade - her strong subjects and trouble spots. I want to save the letter. She mentioned that she loves to write and her letter was long and super cute. She also admitted that her worst subject is spelling. Too funny in a letter including about 50 misspellings. She totally gets that from her Dad. And look how far he has gone. Almost 40 and in Dental school. She has great things ahead of her. :)

I was really looking forward to spending some time with Savannah's teacher. She previously was VERY concerned about Savannah and her reading speed of 174 wpm. Last conference I was blindsided completely when we discussed nothing but RED FLAGS and slowing this girl down.

Things have changed since then and she has a new appreciation of the kind of student Savannah is. They even really seem to be fond of each other. So we had a great conference and she raved about Savannah being her right hand man. She says she is often so busy helping other kids that she has Savannah take over the rest of the class. Savannah also has taught her tons of Internet skills. I am a little embarrassed about this because it only means she has way too much free at home. But the best part she saved for the end. Mrs. M proudly displayed a list of Savannah's current reading tests scores. Five different tests with scores like - 105, 123, 114, 132.

"Isn't this wonderful? Look how she has improved? She's gone DOWN a ton!"

"But has the comprehension improved?" That was my question.

Then, I asked to look at last falls tests again. I noticed that although her speed had come down a ton her comprehension scores were the same.

So of course, Brent and I talked to Savannah later and found out she is no dummy. She knew what her teacher wanted so she purposely read slow for the tests to please her teacher.

And I thought THAT was wonderful. She's still my little nascar reading. Vroom, Vroom!
Camille came with me to her conference and she hardly said a word once the conference began. She listened though, blushed profusely, and enjoyed the entire experience. This girl is so sweet and I am not sure where it comes from. But every mother of 5, deserves at least one shy daughter.
One really sweet thing about her lately is that she has started spending hours doing her own hair. She puts bows, flowers, and pony's everywhere. Always something new and exciting. Brent always tries to say something but I usually shush him. It can look pretty crazy sometimes but it's shows her creativity and she is so proud of it. I know I will look back someday and miss her hair creations each morning.


Caroline on the other hand. . . I am really concerned about her behavior. She embarrasses me constantly with her questions. She has one for everyone we meet. I know it is a wonderful trait to be curious and maybe that means she is smart, but it's just too much All The Time. While home teaching with Brent this week, she kept repeating the same question over and over again- "Why is your house so messy?"

The woman is older, but unfortunately not hard of hearing, like Brent hoped. She finally looked at Caroline and made up some excuse.

Grocery shopping with her is insane. I have to watch her every second or she starts up a conversation with the person next to us. "Why are you so short, how come you have a balloon, where did you get that candy?" I hear her starting and quickly shush her with "We will talk about it later". But as soon as my back is turned to grab a head of lettuce she asks it again. All I can say is she will definitely take kindergarten by storm in a few months.

On Sundays she has a handful of people that she runs up to, hugs them, and smiles up at them awaiting her treat. They always come through. Yesterday she got a new pen, a box of corn pops, 3 tootsie rolls, and package of smarties. I hate her candy collecting on Sunday. As of next week she isn't allowed to ask or accept any candy at church. It is seriously ruining her Sunday behavior. One of her favorite people is Taylor Hawes. But instead of her saying hi to him, he says that she just runs up to him after primary and says, "Where's the candy man?" As ward clerk he's supposed to know these things I guess. When he doesn't know, she is gone, without even the customary hug. Lately she only wastes a hug on someone who has previously been known for a good handout.

Brent is in the midst of finals and is bored out of his mind preparing for tests. When I think of all the hours he has spent studying for tests in his life it seems like it should just come natural to study. Can it really be that he is about to start his last and final year of being a student? I can't even imagine what it is going to be like when he is a dentist and won't have the excuse . .. "Uh, I have to study."

And as for Marco and Momma. He trashes the house, I clean the house. Don't expect to drop by unannounced and find a clear path through the house. It doesn't exist at most times. I am glad to have the extra exercise keeping up with him. It's nice to burn calories just in the course of my normal day.
You might've noticed that I left out a picture of Kennon. That is because I couldn't find any recent ones. Apparently she is the only one that remembers to take pictures lately and thus misses being in any herself. The only recent solo pictures I can find were from her musical and her birthday. Sorry, Kennon. I am going to do better.

Brent thinks I am too uptight. I get worked up about small things around the house like kids not showering, bedtimes, messy house, outfits matching . . . all kinds of stuff that I "need to chill about" and we'd all be a lot happier. But when he's driving, he has to admit he's the one that is uptight. A light cannot turn red in front of him without him making a huge deal. He can be so upset up by the time we've driven 10 minutes and all because his timing has been bad and the whole world (5 RED LIGHTS) seems to be against him.

I think we all hate red lights. But since living with right leg sciatica now for months I too find that a red light can make all the difference. Nothing literally IRRITATES MY NERVES like going back and forth from the gas to the pedal 30 plus times on the way to the piano lessons. Giving up driving isn't a feasible solution and so far Brent has yet to install hand controls in my car. His Dad had MS and had his vehicle specially modified to include hand controls so he could cruise around Basin City without a single lift of the leg.

In the meantime I'm learning to deal by experimenting with left leg driving. My reaction time is slower and I've warned the whole family that until I get the hang of this I may be an accident waiting to happen. Savannah just said, "Make sure you drive the Buick then!"

It's warm enough for some frolicking in the backyard with sprinklers. I kept trying to take some pictures of the kids but couldn't find an angle that had the background I liked.
On one side you can see our clothes hanging on the line. You may think I live in a white trash neighborhood but I actually am the only one who hangs clothes on the line of all our neighbors. I just can't help myself. I feel so domestic when I do it. And it's free and better on our clothes.
Directly behind Caroline in her new suit (that she earned from her mother's store) is our garden plot. Or used to be. We decided it's time to replant it to grass this spring but have yet to get around to it. We almost killed ourselves digging that up by hand for our garden only 2 years ago. How can it already be time to fill it back in to sell the place? This will be my first summer ever IN MY WHOLE LIFE without a garden. I think I will still plant some stuff in spare corners of the yard but no big garden plot. It actually cost a lot to water it here, and we aren't sure it's cost effective. But Oh, it will be missed!

Behind the garden is our old rusty, rotting shed. The floor is rotted, the siding is rusted but it has a brand new roof thanks to Brent last summer. Now its my job to scrape and paint the siding. To the left of the shed is our trailer. Brent pretty much built it from scraps in Washington and used it to transport all our stuff back here. It made the trip twice risking the Buick's life each time. He welded some side wheels so it flips and rolls on back between the narrow gap of houses to the back yard. Not an easy job, though and after loaning it out a few times for people we finally quit advertising our trailer hid it in the backyard where it quickly became a spot to hold stuff we don't know what to do with but don't want to throw away. Like free wood someone gave us when they moved away. Free wood comes in quite handy for tree houses so I am guess I am glad we had it. But very tired of looking at it and the green tarp the last two years.

If you look across the fence you can see Richard's front lawn. We have had our issues with Richard. His dog goes potty all along our fence and it never gets picked up. And in the summer they blow their fans backward out their kitchen window directly onto my clothesline. There are at least 5 smokers living in that house at all times so you can imagine how much I love their air on my clothes.
But He is the nicest guy. He let us park our boat in his front driveway the entire summer. Sadly, the lot was only available because another neighbor secretly reported him and his unlicensed, and rusted 1977 blue _______ (not sure of the make and model) car parked in front of his house. Not sure where he carried it off to just in time to make room for our boat, but now it's back in about 20 pieces on his front lawn loaded on a trailer. He's been going through it now for a couple days and has big plans for the scraps. You'll have to talk to Brent about that as I didn't quite follow it but pretty sure he mentioned something about another '77 he'll be using.
Kennon insisted on running with Marcus straight through at full blast. I never would've thought so but he likes getting sprayed with cold water head to toe as much as the rest of them.
Earlier in the day Caroline and I had played it safe with just a little pressure. Caroline was going crazy that he needed to have his shirt off to go in the sprinklers. But I think he may be taking after his Daddy and if so it's probably best to keep that white body covered as much as possible.

I've started quilting again after about a year long hiatus. I made the mistake of thinking Marcus's room could double as a sewing room. HAH! I finally gave up on a sewing room and moved it out to my room a couple months ago, and now keep it busy. This first one was for Briste who is expecting her first daughter in June.

It was so much fun I kept going. My sister Candice just got this one in the mail. Her little daughter is already a day late. I tied Briste's but got a crazy idea with Candice's and decided to try machine quilting it myself. I can't believe I didn't try this before. It's of course not as good as paying someone over $50 dollars to quilt it on a real machine but I was very pleased with the results. And it took less than an hour to quilt.

I think the winter is finally over. Thursday afternoon I take the girls to ballet near Delaware park. Since the weather has started warming up slightly I walk the park while they dance. Thursday was sunny as can be. . but FREEZING, and not just a little. I was in long pants and a hoodie for 2 miles and never worked up a sweat at full speed due to an icy wind. I ran the heater in Marcus's room that night.

And then Friday it got hot, I think up near 80. So hot that by Friday night I had a fan blowing some air into Marcus's room. It seems like that is how it goes around here. Straight from winter to summer. No spring!

I have been dealing with unexplained sciatica for 9 months now on my right side. My driving side. Driving around town really aggravates the condition. It's always a new spot from my lower back down to my foot. Burning, falling asleep, tightness, aching. Not agonizing pain most of the time but it just won't go away. It's fine if I am busy running around the house or exercising but as soon as I sit down it comes back. Especially if I need to use my leg over and over again. Lately I am a full time chauffeur after school. Playing on the piano for hours like I do lately for my new calling in primary isn't helping either. Then things got worse two months ago when something happened to my ankle during ballet. I didn't sprain it. It just started burning really bad when I jumped or releve'd. Since then it hurts when I go up and down the stairs, and I can't do any type of jogging.

So I went to see a Dr. with pen and paper last week and wrote down a whole page of what I need to be doing or not doing. He says it is all coming from an injury to my back most likely.
He also referred me to a podiatrist to look at the ankle. The podiatrist says it's all most likely all coming from my flat feet and how severely pronated I am on my right side. But to be sure he's sending me to a chiropractor and for x-rays.

I wish there was a way to get them all together and get a real diagnosis. So far I've been told regular exercise and stretching and heat on my back will go a long way to solving this . . then the next diagnosis was to get some rest and put my feet up and ice my ankle.

It's hard to know what to do. But I am pretty sure that I got a problem that there is no quick fix for. I know everyone has their problems and I guess at 33 it was time for me to join the real world.

One big change for me is following both Dr's advice to wear good shoes all the time. I think my tile floor in the kitchen is really making things worse. Which means that I am wearing my tennis shoes at home! Oh man do I hate this! I have always loved to be barefoot at home and think people who get up and put their shoes on to stay home all day are really weird. But now here I am getting up every morning, slipping in my arch support inserts and lacing up my shoes just to walk around the house. I keep telling Brent that I just don't know if I can do this. I just really like to have wiggle room for the toes ( I love flip flops) and part of being a cute stay at home mom in my head is not wearing your tennis shoes. But I have to say that in the week I have committed to this my ankle is starting to feel better all ready. I have no idea if it will help the sciatica. Actually this is not the first time I have had sciatica for nine months. It is the 6th. But the last five episodes all ended abruptly when I delivered a baby. This time I see no end in sight.

Brent is busy shopping for a home for a us a year from now. When I say home, I mean a state. Unfortunately, we still are pretty up in the air. The plan was always to go home to the farm and we still hope to. But it really complicates things that in the last five years since Brent decided to be a dentist all of sudden there seems to be limited opportunities anywhere in the west, especially eastern Washington. And we would really like to find a place where they needed us, rather than constantly hearing, "Oh, so you are a dentist, too? Everyone wants to be a dentist these days?" Someone told us that there are 20 dentists in our old stake (In Mormon lingo a stake is a group of several church wards. They meet together as a group biannually.)

Marcus pulled the bookcase in his room down on himself yesterday. He has a huge welt on his forehead, but he's fine. I was in the bathroom next to him and heard a crash and found him trapped underneath. When I told the kids what had happened and why I was moving the bookcase out of his room, Savannah said, "Well, of course, mom it's not a good idea to have that in there. It's happened before."

"What? When did it happen before?"

"Oh that's right. You weren't here. Taylor and Laney were watching us."

Nobody told me.

This is the first time I have ever had a kid pull a dresser/bookcase over on himself. He's a boy so I guess it is all new parenting from here on out.

He also found out about a third level in our house last week for the very first time. Marcus hadn't ever been to basement. We just took the gate off above the stairs a few weeks ago thinking he would no longer fall down them, and we are so sick of stepping over it constantly. But for all he knew those steps just went to the back door. I never planned on sharing the extremely cluttered and dangerous basement with him for at least another year.

Well, the other day I came down from upstairs and couldn't find Caroline and Marcus anywhere in the house. I finally heard some noise in the basement and Caroline called up to me that she brought him down there and "He loves it, Mom!" I went down and he was circling the room like a mad man. Right past the work bench with all Brent's tools, all the kids art supplies, the jars of canned food, the toys we haul down there of his when we get sick of them kicking around, and really tons of garbage we have no where else to store. It was all I could do to drag him back upstairs and keep him out of there since then. Thanks so much Caroline.

Just imagine though how exciting for little Marco to find a brand new room in his house. Since I got married I have had reoccurring dreams that I suddenly discover a new level or hidden room in my tiny house that I live in. This is like my favorite dream ever! I once dreamed I suddenly had a double decker single wide, and it was awesome, let me tell you.

He also got his first haircut. (Kennon has pictures on her blog and I am sure would love the traffic) We buzzed the whole thing without a guard, just like Daddy does. It was my idea actually. Brent was against it insisting that he didn't have enough hair for a cut. Someone told me that if you shave his head it will grow back thick and even. Still waiting on that one. It's been a few weeks and he looks like a cancer patient. No one even noticed though.