Gold Coins and a Long Week

The trap was set, the pennies laid out, we thought our plan was foolproof (okay, at least the kids did) - and we didn't catch the leprechan! He did leave us gold coins. Yum! The kids all divided them out even before Ryker was awake. Chocolate makes a good breakfast, right? Okay, maybe not.


We started the week off with a bang, leaving our trap for the leprechan, and it justs kept getting more exciting. Monica's throat had all the signs of strep throat - text book. We made her an appointment Tuesday and sure enough, it was definately strep. We took Jerrick in too, he's had a lingering cough. No strep yet, but it's almost inevitable. Antibiotics to pass around!!

Jared and I celebrated out 14th anniversary on Wednesday. I received a very nice, sentimental card (which is odd, Jared usually find the most humorous cards - must not had a good selection). We also went out to dinner. It was a wonderful evening.

Everyone was feeling fine until Thursday morning when I woke up with a terrible sore throat. Figures, I would be the one to get it. I called the doctor and got a prescription that afternoon, and even started taking the antibiotics, although I felt tired, and my throat was still a little sore, but not horrendous. Should have knocked on wood, Thursday night I started feeling a little cold, then I couldn't stop shivering. This is where Monica makes fun of me. You know the dinosaur in 'Meet the Robinson's'? that says, "I have a big head and little arms. Well, that was me. Bundled up in a blanket only poking my hands out when absolutely needed. She's still having a good laugh over this.

I hardly slept Thursday night, apparently when I did sleep, I was snoring, you know that terrible snoring when it sounds like someone is underwater trying to breathe. That was me! Jared told me he honestly debated about moving to the couch. Sad, since his snoring is usually the loudest!! I could hardly even talk Friday morning, my throat felt like it was swollen shut - so I stayed home. Now, Jared may try and convince you that I stayed home to watch basketball, which I did do, in between naps - but seriously, I was very sick. I haven't run a fever like I had on Friday in who knows how long. Even by Friday night, I couldn't help think that for 'catching it early' this was hanging on way too long. Yes, it was a big pitty party.

Saturday, we celebrated Monica's birthday. Lucky #13. Perhaps this week can be attributed to her 'good luck' year. Hmmm, anyone buying this? Anyway, I was feeling better, not great, but better and we met grandma, Baili, Shelly and Gage in Salt Lake to go shopping for jeans and eat at the Cheesecake Factory. The drive was long, since my company fell asleep both ways - but we had a great time. It's scary to think that my baby girl is going to be a teenager.

So, now it's Sunday, and besides a lingering cough, I am feeling much better. Now, we'll see who gets it next. Oh wait, let me knock on wood.

So here's a few pictures I couldn't help but share. Here are the weird places that my kids fall asleep. It's a good thing we actually keep an eye on them!!


Ryker asleep in the shower. Yes, that's soap next to his head which had basically glued onto his hair. He wasn't too thrilled when I woke him up and made him get under the cold water to rinse the soap off.


Jerrick asleep in the bathtub. He was playing and then there was no noise. Jared checked in on him and found this. We're just glad that the water wasn't as deep as it usually is. I don't think he could have stayed afloat and not gone under the water. SCARY.

St. Patrick's Day Tradition

Each year we leave a trap for a leprechan that visits our house. We leave him pennies and he trades us for gold coins (chocolate coins). Each year the trap gets a little more morbid - I guess that's what happens when you have a lot of boys! This year our trap involved fishing string, a box, a pencil, and glue to hold two pennies together with the fishing line in between. That way, when he pulls on the pennies, he pulls the pencil down, trapping him under the box. I guess I forgot to mention the knifes that are sticking in the box, in hopes they stab this little guy (did I already mention it's getting morbid). The last few years he has been pretty tricky. He always seems to avoid our traps, takes our pennies, and leaves us gold coins. Here's our trap for tonight:



After he comes tonight, we'll post our pictures of our gold!! I don't think I've told the leprechan story yet, but it's definately worth a read.

Last year, we spent quite a while setting up the trap for the Leprechan. They dressed up a box with all kids of polly pocket furniture (to make it nice and cozy), but then added every sharp knife we had into the box. It was a 'sharp' living space (sorry couldn't resist!). Anyway, the leprechan got knicked by a few of the knives trying to get all of his pennies, leaving raspberry scented blood behind. He was a little irritated, so he looked all over the living room for any extra pennies, or cash lying around. Jaxon had inadvertently left his wallet on the piano. Yes, the leprechan helped himself to his money. It was about $8 - but if you ask Jaxon today, it was over $50 (as if he'd really have that much money!!). The money was gone forever, producing a very nice memory, and perhaps a little hatred. Jaxon is determined to catch the leprechan to get back his money. We did warn the kids to hide any money that they had, just in case the leprechan started snooping around. They certainly didn't want to lose any more.

Just a quick picture of Cannon - he's growing so fast.

Our Favorite Seattle Memories

Kids remember the strangest things . . . so we figured we would ask what they liked and remembered. Here they are:

Monica: My favorite moment was when I was locked out of my hotel room with Shelly. Baili fell asleep and didn't here us knocking. We went down to the front desk to get a new key card, but grandma had to get the new card, and we forgot that we wouldn't be able to get back upstairs without a key card, since the elevator needed one. Oops. We had to call mom and dad, who sent Jerrick and Ryker down to get us. We kept knocking, calling and finally Baili opened the door. The next morning, she couldn't remember any of this.

Jaxon: I have to say when we had to walk up the really steep hill. It was a lot of fun walking down it, but it was really hard to walk up it. That was my favorite moment.

Gunnar: We rode a simulator ride at the Pacific Science Center. It felt like a roller coaster ride. It was cool.

Jerrick: When we went on the boat ride. There were lots of people and they had food. I was sitting on the top and I walked down to the bottom and then we got off the boat.

Ryker: Going in Cannon's carseat. Mom's note: Ryker got tired of walking and since we had the front pack for Cannon, we put Ryker in the carseat on the stroller. He thought this was the best way to ride around.

Since the kids have their favorite moments, we figured that we should include our favorite moments too. Although mine is fairly tame, Jared's is great!

Emily: Eating dinner at the top of the Space Needle and having it rotate around the city. The views were amazing and dinner was pretty good too! It was a great place for a romantic dinner!!

Jared: My favorite Seattle moment was going to and from the airport on the public transportation, walking 7 blocks with our luggage and our kids. It was great jumping on and off the bus and sitting will strangers and hoping all my kids and all my stuff was on the bus.

Seattle

View from the top of the space needle - Jared and I had dinner - our alone time for the trip! It was probably the most expensive meal that we've ever had - but it was the most amazing view. The restaurant rotates - so you see the whole city. Absolutely amazing!! Everyone else missed out - sadly, my pictures just don't do the view justice.

This was a picture from the harbor cruise - it was incredible cold, but the views were amazing.



These pictures are from the Pacific Science Center. Wow - what an amazing place. There was so much to do and see. We spent most the day there and enjoyed every minute!! We saw an I-Max film and Cannon absolutely loved it (the other kids did too!). We had a fun trip. If you get the chance, ask Jared about taking the bus to and from the airport - and wheeling the suitcases down the streets of Seattle. Okay, we're cheap (at least I'm cheap) and the bus was only $6.00 and the shuttle would have been $88 for our family. Really - isn't that worth a walk (which was probably a mile each way, with all of the kids, suitcases, did I mention the kids.) Not exactly Jared's highlight of the trip.

We were able to see the Pacific Science Center, the Aquarium, Pikes Place Market, the Science Fiction and Music Experience museums, and the Space Needle. It was a quick, but fun trip. The kids loved the airplane ride and the trip. Too bad the trip has to end and real life has to begin again. The laundry still isn't done . . . (I guess it never is!)