I'm fine

Addison, Noah, and I went on a little hike in the hills behind his old school - the first school he attended when we moved to California. I love it when Addison has no one and nothing to distract him and only me to talk to. Sometimes I get this stream of consciousness from him which lets me in on the things I'm always trying to drag out of him... Am I ruining your life by doing this or that? Are you scarred forever by such and such? About halfway through our hike we walked directly behind the playground of his former school. I asked him what he remembered about it. He started spouting about ball closets, frog ponds, and hiking trails. It seemed to be a mix of all of the playgrounds from all of the schools he has attended. I let him keep talking and he started to reminisce about all sorts of things-

Remember when I got to eat lunch with the principal because I won some award? (Sort of... yeah, I think so). Remember when Travis and Michael and I were standing by that backstop and Travis told me I had to say a bad word to join his club but I refused and Michael said the bad word? (Yep. I've heard that story and I'm still proud of you). Hey! They changed the glider. It goes twisty now. (No, I think it's the same. You're thinking of the one at your other school).

Mostly I just nodded and uh-huhed. The less I talk, the more he will. As we walked, he continued a trip through his memories and started going back to things I never realized he would remember-

Remember when Dominic's mom forgot to pick us up at school? Remember how that one kid's little sister bit me when I went to play at his house? Remember when we used to go sledding on the hill by grandma's house?

Yep, I remembered all of those things. While he was talking I wanted to ask him about each memory. Were you traumatized by being left at school? Did your friend's mom make sure you were ok when that little brat bit you? Are you devastated all the time that you don't live by your grandparents? How did you feel? What could I have done differently? What do you need me to do to make everything ok???

He started talking about the trumpet he wants to buy, and said,

A: Do you remember when we used to go clean the music store at night?

Me: Yep.

A: I loved that.

I had to stop walking. Was he kidding? I looked at him and asked him if he was serious. He seemed totally confused by the question. He told me about the hall he played with his "guys" in, the pianos he pounded on, the movies he got to bring, and treats from the treat box.

I thought back to that time in our lives. I was working whatever job I could find to make things work; mostly things where I could bring Addison along because I didn't want to leave him and at the time leaving him home wasn't an option. Our family had worked at this music store forever and my mom and I cleaned it after-hours. It was winter, so it was always miserable to leave my warm house and drag my 5 year old out at bedtime. He would ALWAYS cry and ask to stay home, but he wouldn't stay without me and I couldn't leave him at home. The job was a pain. I started out doing it alone but got too scared to be in that big music store myself, so my mom started coming with me. We had to clean gross bathrooms, dust endless pianos, and vacuum several rooms that were bigger than my entire house. The store was so big that Addison couldn't stay in one place and always have his eye on me, which he really needed at that time. We'd bring a little DVD player and he would drag it from one big room to another. I remember getting frustrated with him more often than I should have when he would whine and want to follow me. I would tell him not so lovingly that he was fine. It was such a pain to cart his toys, DVD player, treats around with us, and I ended up spending even more time cleaning up after him. Some areas of the store were really dark and a little scary. In the recital hall there wasn't really anywhere for him to play while I vacuumed so he had to sit out in this dark narrow hallway and play. We all hated when it was time to clean the recital hall. I had to gather up chairs, vacuum, put them back. It took forever and knowing my son was scared and sad made it worse. The whole situation is a bad memory for me, and I assumed if he remembered it at all, he wouldn't look back fondly on it either.

When he started talking about his memories of that time, it really floored me. I'm so sure all the time that I'm ruining Addison's life. I got divorced. I moved away. I make him work hard. I'm too hard on him. I don't let him play the video games he wants to. I don't buy him the toys he asks for. The thing is, I'm giving myself too much credit. I may very well be doing everything possible to unintentionally ruin this kid's life; but when it comes down to it, he's a really good kid. I'm pretty sure he'll succeed in spite of me.

I thought about the kind of trust that this little person is putting in me. He believes that I can get him where he needs to go. He believes that I'm always going to do him right. He believes that I have things figured out. It kind of scares me. Sometimes I am completely overwhelmed by the responsibility of giving him what he needs to succeed and be happy. I am sure I don't have don't have it in me. I know, however, that he has it in him. Luckily, he believes in me believing in him and it's enough to make him see life as something he can do and do it well.

I wonder how many times Heavenly Father has told me, "You're fine," and I wonder how many times I have actually listened. I can look back on times when I was sure I wasn't fine, and I realize now that I was. I'm probably better for having gone through them. During those times of change and trial and confusion, I want to realize that I am fine and on the way to becoming refined. Like Addison, I want to trust that while I don't believe I'm going to make it through, someone who knows better knows that I will. I want to look back on those refining experiences with gratitude. I want to face them while they're upon me with faith.

When Addison and I got back to the car, I put Noah in his car seat and asked Addison to buckle him up. As I was walking around to the front, Noah started to wiggle and fuss.

"You're fine, little monster." Addison told him.

I hope he believes it.

Help me out...

First of all, I know that I'm not the only one that deals with this, and second of all, I know that

there are many who deal with it times 4, 5, 6, 7... but, seriously, how do people have more than one kid? This isn't rhetorical. How. do. you. do. it? (I remember once saying I hated it when people put periods in between words ina sentence to make the reader pause for effect... I need the effect right now). I will freely admit that I have it much, much easier than most because I have 10 years between kids and the 10-year-old is a pretty darn good kid. So, I repeat how do you do it?

The other night Tom was gone for the evening, I was making dinner, baby was fussy because it was evening, and Addison got a sudden and intense headache that made him start throwing up. I was making a sauce on the stove top, the baby was grunting and snorting on the way to a full blown fit, and Addison was writhing on his bed that I still hadn't gotten around to putting sheets on. Then, it all came to a head... Baby screaming, Addison puking, sauce boiling over. Where to first? I will tell you right now, I am a slow responder sometimes. I want to think out the most effective and useful response to most things and this situation was no different, except for the fact that everything needed immediate attention. So, my little brain started going through the different tactics I could take...

1. Turn off the stove, leave the mess, take care of Addison (his need seemed most pressing), and leave the baby to scream
2. Turn off the stove, make the baby stop screaming, then see to Addison with peace and more focused attention
3. Turn off the stove, clean up the mess, make the baby stop screaming, see to Addison with total and complete attention that isn't thinking about a baby screaming OR a mess in the kitchen

I honestly stood in my kitchen with a spoon in my hand for a full minute deciding what to do and making each situation worse. There was a moment where (I promise this happened on my way to helping Addison) I thought, "I should go get the hidden stash of fun size candy bars I just bought for Trick-or-Treat candy because I deserve it right now," but you'll be happy to know I didn't. I chose to see to Addison first and forgot to turn off the stove even though it was part of all 3 plans. I ran to the bedroom where he had entirely missed the bowl I placed there when he told me he MIGHT throw up. Now, he had thrown up all over his sheetless bed, bedskirt, floor, etc. I told him to get up and get in the shower (after I made sure he was done and ok, don't worry), and proceeded to wonder about which to attend to next. Get the baby or clean up the mess. Mess! Oh no! I forgot about the kitchen mess. I ran to the kitchen in time to see the sauce boiling over with volcanic ferocity. Noooowww, I turned off the stove (genius, I know). Baby still screaming. I went and checked on Addison who was making his way to the shower, but threw up again, this time almost in the toilet. He got in the shower. What if he had been a toddler?? At least my 10-year-old can get himself into the shower, which he later decided to turn into a bath and which I greatly appreciated because it kept him feeling ok for about 20 minutes). My next step was to STOP THE SCREAMING. I figured both messes would be easier to clean up once the SCREAMING STOPPED. Baby just wanted to be held, so I picked him up (thinking again about the fun size candy bars) and one-handedly cleaned up the kitchen. I figured I could do that job with a baby in one hand. The vomit would have to wait. Kitchen got clean. Sat down to feed the baby. Addison didn't want to eat, which was a good thing because dinner was still partially on the ceiling.

It was 5:00. Baby decided he would be happy in the Bumbo seat (I love that thing). I cleaned up the throwup bedroom and Addison laid down and fell asleep. I raided the fun size candy bars and really wanted a coke. I thought about all of the people I could possibly call and ask to bring me a coke. Then I thought of trying to explain why I so desperately needed said coke and found that my story was probably not even close to as good as the 25 that they had up their sleeves and felt embarrassed. Instead, I decided to order a pizza and have a coke delivered to me! Smart, right??

Seven o'clock rolled around and I was worried now that the sudden headache and throwing up indicated a severe neurological problem and that Addison was certainly slipping into unconciousness (and talking to my worried mom on the phone didn't help... The 2 of us can really worry a situation into something scary!). I woke Addison up. He was fine. He did, however, when I asked him if he wanted to eat, say "Sure. Just bring me my bag and my inventory."

The pizza was delivered. I had Addison answer the door and pay for the pizza and, more importantly, my coke. I got out the paper plates and cups, and Addison came walking into the kitchen with a 2 liter of... PEPSI!!! This is not an ok substitute! When the waiter asks me if Pepsi is ok when I order Coke, I say, "I'll have water." I cried a little then for the first and only time that night. Seriously... over the coke.

The night went on as expected. A few more puking episodes, baby didn't want to sleep, nightmares, etc. Tom came home at about midnight, I think. I was so tired I didn't look at the clock.

I really want to know, though, how do people have babies and toddlers and manage their lives? I really feel like I can barely keep up. I am always tired. My house is never clean enough. Homework is often forgotten. Dinner responsibility is often passed to my husband and dishes are ALWAYS passed to him, and even in that I know I'm lucky! I find myself in church looking at young families and staring... They must know some magic secret.

Until someone is willing to share the magic, I'll keep muddling through. Forgive me if my son is wearing clothes that don't match and my baby only has on one sock. Please understand if I have to abandon my cart half full of groceries and leave the store because I really have no idea what is wrong with the baby and, I promise, if I did, I would make him stop screaming. And if I start crying when my waiter asks if Pepsi is ok, just ignore me... I'll be ok in 18 years.

Blessing Day

We blessed Noah on September 5th. We did it at home and it was so special. I loved having everyone gathered in our home and feeling the spirit that was there. My mom, Dean and Amy and family, Jen and Brad and family, Tom's parents, Ian and LaDonne, and Cathy all traveled here for the blessing. Tom's aunt and uncle, Marv and Carma, who live in Pebble Beach were here too.

Jen and Brad arrived late Friday night and Dean and Amy and Mom arrived early Saturday morning. Amy had to have the pancakes at Black Bear (because they're so good!), so we all met up for breakfast. Eric got the cat puppet at the Storytelling Festival in Orem, and it was a big part of the weekend...

Tom's family arrived early in the afternoon and then everyone went to explore the peninsula. My mom and I went out to Moss Landing to the big produce market and bought fruit for the lunch after the blessing. We tried lots of new fruits and vegetables. I love that place, and I think Mom liked it too.

Dean and Amy and Jen and Brad and Addison went to the aquarium. I love these kids. They have so much fun together. I wish we could all live in a commune and they could play together every day.

After the aquarium, they went to Asilomar to look for sea glass. I guess it was freezing. Notice everyone is bundled up except Addison. I swear he is never cold.

I think Jen and Brad should use this as their Christmas card.

Tom's family went out to the beach.

On Sunday, we almost made it to church on time...

After church and the blessing, we walked around the corner to the park and had lunch. Don't I have a handsome husband??
Thanks to LaDonne and Marv, Noah stayed asleep for almost 5 hours that day.
Brad entertained us with his yo-yo tricks.

The kids had a blast at the playground. We stayed for hours.


This kid is crazy, but SO DANG CUTE!
Emma taught the kids a bunch of cat's cradle tricks and they had hours of fun with my scraps of yarn!

I loved having everyone here and my house was way too quiet once they all left. We need more visitors!!

This is how we do it baby...

This is where we read scriptures tonight because my usually sweet, but sometimes devilish baby got himself overtired and wouldn't stop screaming, and our only sure fire stop to that is the bath tub. So, we left him in there extra long so that we could hear each other.

These are the crazy situations you forget you have to create when you have babies 10 years apart. Pretty soon sneaking out of a bedroom on your hands and knees or lying in the most awkward position possible in order to keep your baby asleep will be second nature, but tonight it was pretty funny.

School Starts and Summer Ends...

So, school started last week. Addison is going to another new school (poor child), but was completely fine with it because it's across the street from our house and he has lots of friends in this school. He has one of his friends from primary in his class.

Tom took him school shopping... lucky guy (Addison that is). He came home with black cargo pants (I'm sorry. I hate black casual pants for boys, or maybe just my boy. Don't be offended), and character shirts with sayings on them (another of my not-so-favorites!). Anyway, at least he was dressed right?

I'm loving living across the street from the school. As long as I have kids in school, I want to live in this same proximity to their school. I open the door hug my child, and wave to him as he crosses the street. Then, at 2:30, I look out the window, and when I see him at the crosswalk, I open the door and greet him. Today, I was a little late looking out the window, and guess what? No guilty feelings when I showed up late to pick up and no reminders from the principal that pick-up is at 2:30 (got it), because he just walked in the front door! Awesome!

And now, summer is coming to end in most places, but here we are just starting to get to our warmest days. This summer has been a real bummer (that's right, summer/bummer) because it has been so chilly, and even if it wasn't, I wouldn't really have been going anywhere - not that my excuse (a baby that is) doesn't entirely make up for it. Today though, it was in the 90s, and we went to the pool near a friend's house.

Noah and I didn't get in, but he had to wear his swimsuit before it became too small.

And just for kicks, here is Noah with a vice grip on Addison's nose. Addison couldn't be a better big brother. He loves that baby so much and can't get enough of him... even when Noah threw up on him (THREW UP, not spit up) the other day and he sat there calmly and tried to get him settled by attempting to put his binky in his mouth (maybe not the best solution with throw up everywhere, but a good effort) and calmly telling me that I should hurry and finish the dishes and come get the baby. Cute boys... love them both.

Post-edit: I just read through this and found that I make no sense and have poor grammar throughout. I'm leaving it though (with a couple exceptions for far too embarrassing errors) as a reminder of my sleep deprived state.

Baby Story

It's not even a good one... but I already have one of those and am very happy to say that this one will bore you.

On Monday, 3 days past my due date, I had a doctor's appointment in the morning. They asked if I was having contractions (I have been for a month!) and they asked if I wanted to be checked (ummm.. yeah. I'm 3 days PAST MY DUE DATE!). The doctor checked me and said I was dilated to a 3 and about 70% effaced. She told me I could just wait for things to happen, or she would admit me and induce labor. At that point, although I really wanted NOT to be pregnant anymore, I was really, really scared about being in labor and having a baby and recovering from having a baby. So, Tom and I talked about it, and he made the very good point that it was going to happen sometime, so why not today when our doctor was the one on-call and we could plan it all out. We told the doctor we were in and headed home to pack our bags.

As soon as we got home, I started having really hard and regular contractions. We grabbed our stuff, told my mom and Addison our plan (have a baby today), made Addison put his laundry away, took the lint roller to the couches, wiped down the fridge, loaded the glasses on the counter into the dishwasher... got told to hurry and that I probably didn't need to worry about all of that right now, and headed to the hospital.

Once we got to the hospital at about noon, we headed to labor and deliver where the sweet wife of the 1st counselor in our bishopric just happened to be at the check-in. I'm not sure what she's in charge of there, but she's in charge of a lot, and she handpicked my nurses for the day. She told me she texted the 2 people she wanted to be with me and one was working that day, so they secretly assigned her to me. She was great! I know the doctor is important and everything, but really, it's your nurse that makes the difference! I don't really care who catches the baby, as long as he gets caught. I do, however, care who makes sure my epidural button works every time I push it. They checked me again there and I think I was at a 4. My doctor came and said she was just going to break my water and it wouldn't even be considered an induction. I was scared, again, to have my contractions get any harder, and my doctor asked me if I was ready to call the anesthesiologist. Thanks for asking, and yes I am. She made the call and, really apologetically (I'm sure because I had told her at every visit for the last 2 months how I really wanted an epidural just as soon as I could get one. I mean, really, just hook me up when I walk in) told me that he was just starting a C-section and it would take 30 to 40 minutes. That seemed like a very long time at that point because I think contractions hurt, but I really couldn't complain about only having to wait 30 to 40 minutes... and then I started thinking about the fact that this was one doctor telling me about how long another doctor would take, and I thought, "in doctor time that could be at least 3 hours." But no! The anesthesiologist showed up in about 45 minutes, which meant he was really about 2 hours early. He kicked Tom out and started telling me everything that could possibly go wrong and how many ways I could potentially die. Luckily, my nurse had warned me of this endearing trait of his, and he didn't scare me at all. In fact, at that point, all of the risks were worth it. Spinal headache? Fine. Neurolgic disorders? Great. Paralysis? Sign me up. He was very no nonsense, and in the end it turned out he even had a personality! We ended up discussing our mutual shellfish allergies. He said, "do you eat it anyway?" I considered saying no because I thought I might get a list of ways in which I would eventually die from that too, but he said he ate it anyway, and we talked about how we both throw all caution to the wind sometimes and eat crab legs.

I did have one little moment there right after I got the epidural where they laid me on my back and the weight from the baby made my blood pressure drop really low and I couldn't hear anything and I passed out for just a second. I just remember saying, "you guys are all under water," and then I woke up to Sister Vasher rolling me over onto my side. Then I told her she saved my life. I've only been in this ward a couple months, and she really doesn't know me that well, but I'm guessing I gave her an accurate first impression of me.

So, once the epidural kicked in life was good. It was around 3:00 and I had dilated more and was moving along fine. The next 2 and a half hours passed pretty uneventfully. I think I tried to sleep. I read some of my book. Tom and I chatted about... I can't remember. Anyway, at about 5:00 they checked me again and said I was at a 7. Tom called to update my mom and told her it would be a while and to just head home (she and addison had been out to dinner, etc.) The doctor came in and was told I was at a 7. She checked me and I was at a 9. She then debated about whether or not she should go running. Of course, she reasoned, if she did, I would dilate quickly and be ready to push; but if she didn't, she would just wait around and miss her chance to go running. Well, I didn't really care as long as someone was there to catch the baby, but I really like my doctor and thought it would be better if she were the one to take the handoff. She and Tom talked about running for a while. She's doing the Salinas Valley half marathon, by the way - the same one that Brit and Paul are coming here for next weekend. At some point in all of the running talk, she decided to just have me try pushing. Now, I never really had to do that with Addison because rather than catching the baby, the doctor decided to take him right out in a very rude manner, so I was scared. to. death. But, they gave me instructions, which I failed at on my initial try. I got better though, and it only took about 4 or 5 contractions for him to pop right out (that's how it works right? They pop!) To hear Tom's description, because he was watching every gory detail even though I told him not to, I was giving birth to a baby goat, but it turns out I delivered a sweet and perfect baby boy. He had had a bowel movement before he came out, so there was a little concern about him aspirating the meconium, but he was fine.

We called my mom and told her it had gone a little faster than expected and that the baby was here. Visiting hours for kids are only from 5 to 8, and Noah was born at 6:50. So, by the time Tom called it was 7:15. We told them to hurry and get there before visiting hours ended. When they came, Addison and Grandma loved on the little guy for just a bit and then had to go.

After everything got all taken care of and cleaned up, they wanted to get me up to go to the bathroom. I kept saying that my right leg from my hip down was still numb, and when I say numb I mean you could have stabbed me with an ice pick and I wouldn't have felt it. I told them about this, but I think that they thought I just meant numb as in, I probably wouldn't feel it if a fly or even a spider was crawling on my leg. The nurse grabbed me from one side, my good side, (is that really the best idea? To support the side that works??) and I fell off the bed. I got back in bed and she told me not to try that again. Uh, thanks. We ended up staying in the delivery room until about midnight to see if the feeling would come back, but it never did. They finally just moved us over to Mother/Baby. The feeling didn't come back until the morning. I had fallen asleep at about 5 and woke up at 6:30 with pain in my hip. I figured the feeling had come back, but they told me that I shouldn't get up unless I called them and had them help me even if I felt like I could. I called them, but they never came, so Tom helped me up and I was fine.

We spent the rest of that day trying to remember how to feed, dress, change a baby while he got poked, examined, tested. Everything was perfect with the little guy, and I kept marveling, and still do, that with everything that can possibly go wrong from conception to birth, how most of the time, things turn out just right. How can I be lucky enough to have 2 healthy, wonderful boys? I guess it's because luck doesn't play a factor at all and that these little spirits need bodies to live in. I know that things don't always turn out just right for some reason, and no matter what body my child's spirit was given, I would love it and cherish it. Today, though, I'm grateful for this little body on my lap and the spirit that lives inside it.

Strawyberry Days 2010

This is not a strawberry from Strawberry Days, but can you see the ladybug embedded in it? Crazy, right...? I almost ate this strawberry.

If you grew up in Pleasant Grove, you know how important Strawberry Days is. I mean really important. As a kid, I got new outfits for special occasions: Easter dress, Christmas dress, Strawberry Days outfit. When I was really little, I think it usually had strawberries on it, but as I got older, it was just important to show my respect for the festivities by wearing something new.
We always went to the carnival... in the daytime when we were kids; eating strawberries and cream, riding the fun merry-go-round, going through the spook house; and then as teenagers hanging out at night with the Lake People. I used this term, "Lake People," around someone who moved to Pleasant Grove as an adult and claimed to really get Strawberry Days. They had never heard it and, honestly, I had to question their devotion.
The children's parade was always a good time. Kids from all the primaries in the stakes dressed up for whatever theme they had that year. I don't specifically remember any of them, but I do remember wearing cowboy boots and a bandana one year and a dance costume with a really big tutu another year. Maybe there wasn't a theme and I was just taking the opportunity to show my originality. Either way, it was always the hottest possible day and we walked around the blocks surrounding the junior high in great anticipation of our reward... A popsicle and a carnival ticket!!! Addison has been in this parade almost every year that he has been old enough for primary (although he has never actually lived in Pleasant Grove), and I don't think he really gets it. Maybe it was cooler back then.
We watched the grand parade until we (Jen and I) were old enough to be in it with our dancing teams. We started out in "Golden Girls," then as we were older and in dance in high school and junior high, we danced with our school in the parade. Those were the days when there were 2 parades: One in the morning and one at night; both headed directly for the sun as it was either rising or setting. Genius on the part of the parade planners. I remember getting our hair perfect for the morning parade after sleeping in braids and curlers, and then trying so hard not to ruin it by the time the evening parade came around. I also remember, incidentally, getting yelled at by Traci Garrick, our high school dance teacher, for Jen's hair not being curly enough, which I hadn't realized up until that point was my responsibility... but that is a story for another time.
We didn't always go to the rodeo, but we could hear the loud speakers from our house.
Later, they started adding more and more to the festivities: The 5k, the concert in the park (with free strawberries and cream!!), craft sales, etc. I think I've only missed a couple of Strawberry Days celebrations. I wasn't there last year, but was glad to be able to go this year. It's a reunion no matter where you go during Strawberry Days. People travel to be there, hold family reunions around that time so that their posterity can participate. I saw so many people from high school now there with their own kids, showing them the ropes of the celebrations, keeping the tradition alive.

Addison and Eric in the Children's Parade. The theme (there was one this year) had something to do with what they wanted to be when they grew up. We had short notice on whether or not Addison was going to be there, but luckily he had enough with him to dress up like a basketball player, which is "sometimes what I want to be when I grow up" (says Addison).

Brayden was going to dress as Batman, but decided to just be himself... which I think is a perfect thing to be when you grow up.

The race!! Addison and Eric ran the kids 1 mile race. First they had to hug it out.

Addison and Eric (and Dean is in there I think) running down Main Street.

Addison crossing the finish line.

I have to admit, I didn't love the new name of the 5k race. Put on by the fire and police departments, it is now called the "Guns and Hoses 5k." Yikes.

Cute cheerleaders.

Not PGHS, but it isn't a parade without the bands.

These guys are Hot Shots now, but when I was 4, it was the Golden Girls!!

Payson bagpipe band... my favorite! Seriously. If you go to high school in Payson and you want to be in the band, you play the bagpipes. Isn't that cool???
Cosmo!
Friends in the parade. My mom wasn't there this year, but she can really yell loud, especially when she sees someone she knows in a parade.

Spring 2010

Here's a wrap up of what we did at the end of the school year this year...

Addison earned his Bear and is now a Webelo. This is his, "I hate getting my picture taken and standing in front of people" pose.

Addison had a gnarly bike accident and was really proud of his scrapes and bruies. You should have seen his knee and thigh. It was a good one!

We did quite a few things over Spring Break around here because we didn't travel anywhere, but the best by far for all of us was volunteering at the Santa Cruz Homeless Connect Project... Just ask Addison. We did the Disney "Give a Day/Get a Day" thing where you got a free ticket to Disneyland when did some volunteer service. This was a big expo where people could come and receive all kinds of services. They had doctors, people from the DMV, dentists, help finding housing, massages, haircuts, banking, help getting food stamps, etc. Tom was assigned to be an escort. He would find out what the person he was assigned to was in need of and then helped them get to each place. Addison and I were at a table at the very end that was putting together hygiene bags. As people came through, we would ask what they needed: razors, shampoo, lotion, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc... and give them a bag to put everything in. Addison was a little nervous at first, but by the end he was right up there showing people where to go to get what and making sure people got what they needed. He has asked several times about doing it again, and I need to make sure it (or something like it) is something we do regularly.
Addison took trumpet lessons at school this year and had a few concerts as the school year ended. They did great!This school has a jazz band for kids when they get into 7th grade. They are amazing! I can't believe what a good job the music teacher does with these kids who are all 12 to 14 yrs old!

So... then at the end of April, we went to Disneyland. This is the only picture we have because I didn't bring my camera. Addison finally got to fight Darth Mal!!! Addison liked all of the rollercoasters this time but didn't love the Indiana Jones ride which he had been so excited about going on... We had a good time, even though I spent most of my time sitting on benches waiting for Tom and Addison to go on rides. The people watching can't be beat at Disneyland.

And I think that's about it. On to summer!!

Addison's Birthday and Easter

While I was in New York, Addison stayed in Utah with his dad. His birthday was on the Sunday that we left to go home, so he got to celebrate the whole weekend with a party on Friday with Josh's family, a party on Saturday with his cousins and friends, and then a barbecue on Sunday...We went to Pirate Island for his birthday dinner. It is such a fun place. It looks like Pirates of the Caribbean! Amy, Eric, and Emma, and Brit, Brayden, and Paul came along with Grandma Lundell.
Megan and her cute kids came too, and I was so happy to be able to catch up with her. I love that girl. Addison and Maddie picked up where they left off a few years ago. I'm really counting on arranged marriages coming back into fashion.
Isn't she a doll!!!
Blowing out the candles.
Grandma had her anual Easter egg hung a week early so that Addison could participate because he was so disappointed that he didn't get to last year!!
Checking out the loot!!

We flew home on Addison's birthday. It was a late flight and there were mechanical problems, so we didn't leave until about 10:30 p.m. When we got on, it was so full that there weren't 2 seats together, and no one would move to let a pregnant lady sit by her child!! We had to sit across the aisle from each other, and Addison fell asleep on the lady he was sitting next to. I hoped he would drool on her, but he didn't. When we landed, the flight attendant came on the intercom and announced that it was Addison's birthday and had everyone cheer for him. He was barely awake, but I think he remembers it. I know he remembers getting a barf bag decorated with Southwest wings and filled with snack size pretzels, peanuts, and graham crackers, as well as a deck of Southwest playing cards!!