Family Update

So, just a quick update. Olivia did have an ear infection and has been on antibiotics for 6 days. It has made all the difference in the world. She is doing a hundred times better. She ate over 2 oz of carrots today. Not so much a fan of peaches and apple sauce. She shivered and shook the whole way down and held the bib over her face when I tried to feed them to her. She loved the carrots though and ate them with no fuss.

Wyatt taught me something today. I use to consider myself and fairly literate person, but apparently that is not so. Wyatt and I were making designs with domino's and he told me that his started with an "F". (It was in the shape of a snake) Naturally, I guessed a five. He scoffed at me and said "No, Brittany. I will give you a clue! It is a compound word." Now, I am sure that most of you know what a compound word is, but I was clueless. He then informed me that a compound word is two separate words combined into one. Any ideas? It was a fishingpole. Now, I know that fishing pole is technically two words, but I was just so proud that my little man is paying attention in school, I didn't correct him.

In other news, Shea won the 5th grade spelling bee. He won it the day after he got in a fight. Wes is having a bumper sticker custom made that says "My Honor Student can beat up your kid." We couldn't be more proud! :)

Alexandria is turning 12 on Friday. She is pretty excited to start wearing make up. I tried to tell her that it is all down hill from here, but she would not listen. She has her mind set. I guess I better prepare myself for a few mornings of teaching make-up 101

Skyler is doing great in school. He reached 50 AR points which means he gets to have lunch with a friend in the classroom. He is so excited. He has started reading the Percy Jackson novels and loves them. Such a smart kid.

Our family has taken on a couple of new endeavors this week. We have started reading scriptures as a family in the mornings. It has made a huge difference in our family. Wes and I are also reading couples scriptures at night. It is really hard to remember, but he is being a great support.

We also started recycling. We are currently just recycling paper and plastic. Baby steps. And we made a rule that Wes and I will not watch TV or play on the computer while the kids are awake. This ensures that we are spending time with them. We decided that we have the rest of our lives to watch TV, but not play with our kids. Most of these were my crazy ideas and my sweet husband has been such a wonderful support and has really been great in implementing these.

I am sorry it has been so long. Things have been a little crazy. We found out on Sunday that Olivia has RSV. We have been able to keep her home for the time being. We are hoping to make it through this without having to admit her to the hospital. I just don't think that I can go back there. It seems like we just got her home. I had high hopes of her being past the worst of it, but she stopped breathing today and it required me rubbing her back to get her cleared out and breathing. In addition to that she is starting to grab her ear and cry a lot. I am worried she has an ear infection. We see her pediatrician again tomorrow so here is hoping he has good news. I will keep you posted.

Oliva Rolls Over

Final post, I promise

This is the final post for the day, I promise. Olivia Joy has officially figured out how to roll from her belly to her back and she does it both directions. It is no longer just coincidence. She knows how to do it and intends to do it. We even got it on camera which was really exciting!

Oh my heart!

Skyler, my tender hearted boy; did the sweetest most thoughtful thing I have seen in a long time and it almost brought me to tears. He went to his little sister who he had not seen for 5 days and gave her a paper cut out heart that he had decorated at school and said, "Here Livi, I am giving you my heart." Then he turned to me and very sweetly said, "I decorated it just for her, I hope she likes it." I happen to know that she loves it and is a lucky lady to have the heart of such a caring, sweet brother.

Not a germ

So Wyatt, my imaginative child decided that he had a wishing rock and that he wanted to wake up the size of a germ tomorrow morning. That way, he can ride on his guinea pig "Matches." I was communicating my concerns with this wish. I said, "Wyatt I don't want you to wake up different. I don't know how to talk to fleas." He looked at me like I was absurd and in a very serious tone told me, "Don't worry Brittany, I am not going to be a flea, I am just going to be the size of a germ. There's a big difference." Whew! I was worried that I was losing my Wyatt forever.

Opposite Day

Wyatt was making a craft. He really likes making crafts. He drew a snowman and a heart and asked me which one I liked best. I said both and he told me to pick. This went back and forth for a few minutes. Finally I picked the snowman to complete his craft and he says, "Hmm I think I am just gonna go with the heart."

Shortly thereafter Wyatt asks me which flavor of ice cream is my favorite and I tell him Mint Chocolate Chip. He ponders this information and then decidedly says, "I'm just going to draw vanilla with a cherry."

Why even ask me?

Funny Kid

I was helping Wyatt with his reading and trying my hardest not to get frustrated when he was going slow. I finally said, "Wyatt, you better get with it or you are not going to get to play the wii." He very seriously says "Brittany, have you ever heard of a little thing called thinking? It is not easy." Point Taken.

Wyatt John on the first day of school and showing off his $2.00 bill from the tooth fairy for his first lost tooth.

Shea, Skyler and Alexandria on the first day of school!

Meet Olivia Joy

4 1/2 months old

Meet My Family

Meet my family,

Wesley Carlson and I met in the fall of 2006 and were married shortly thereafter in April of 2007. I inherited 4 kids on the 6th of April and have had the pleasure of helping raise them since. Just to give you a quick background on the members of our family

Wes- Recently lost 50 pounds and is obsessed with running. I don't complain ;) He is currently coaching the club wrestling for Snake River and so far is enjoying every minute of it. He is in the process of picking a pathway for school and will be going back to school to get his masters.

Brittany- Did not lose 50 pounds, but in my defense did have a baby! :) I work with Wes to keep the family up and running. I scrapbook and read in my spare time (which is minimal).

Alexandria- She is almost 12 and will be joining young womens. I am really excited for her, but Wes mostly just feels old. She is enjoying choir in school and takes piano lessons from her Aunt Kimmie. She babysits on most Mondays (unless she "forgets" to ride the bus home), and it great with younger children.

Shea-Just completed club basketball and is now in club wrestling. He is learning to play the Cello during his enrichment time at school and takes piano lessons from his Aunt Kimmie as well.

Skyler- Just began club wrestling and is quite the scrapper. His favorite thing to do is play video games and read. I know, one would never guess that the two go hand in hand.

Wyatt- What to say about Wyatt? He is quite a character. I could carry on a conversation with him all day. He questions everything and does not accept the general cop out answers. He is doing club wrestling as well and is quite excited because he has "really been lifting weights." I catch him lifting my 2 lb dumb bells all the time.

Olivia- Is 4 1/2 months and is becoming quite social. She does not like being alone and prefers to have someone to talk to at all times. She spends her days with her grandma and nana and is spoiled rotten. She is a very happy little girl and only cries when she is hungry.

That is our family. Enjoy!

New Blog

Since this is all the rage, I figured I would jump on the bandwagon and create one for my family. I will admit, I am a little hesitant. I am not exactly confident that I can keep up with it, but we will give it a shot.