Funny Sayings

"You don't know the recipe." That is what I was told when Ireland (our youngest) explained to me why I couldn't make him a grilled cheese sandwich.

When Tyler was four years old we had just landed in Roanoke, VA for a family reunion. Tyler, Zakary and I were in the very first row and Tyler stood up in his seat while we were waiting to be let off the plane and looked at the people sitting behind us. In a very loud and excited voice he turned to me and said "Dad, the guy behind us is bigger than his seat." At that point I started turned red and prayed the door would open any second. Tyler then took another look and changed his mind, "No, he is bigger than a horse!" At that moment the door opened and I grabbed the boys and sprinted to luggage claim.

Quinton in the middle of church asked my dad why he had so many chins.

Makena while reading the scriptures as a family proceeded to read to us about "butt and honey" instead of butter and honey.

Tyler when 3 years old wanted pretzels in the middle of church service and said "Give me pretzels, dad." When I asked him how to ask for them nicely he screamed, "Give me pretzels penis head!"

With 8 of them we get a lot of crazy things said around the house and unfortunately in public. It is a blast though and something we try to remember to embarrass the living daylights out of them when they are older.

End of the school year

With eight kids our schedules are usually pretty hectic. Now that we are at the end of the school year it only becomes crazier. Right now we are working with four different schools and two different school calendars. Tyler and Madison share the traditional school year calendar and the rest of the kids share the modified schedule. Tyler and Madison have seven days of school left and the other kids are off on June 5th. For Tyler final exams start this week and end the beginning of next week. Madison has some end of the year tests. The elementary school kids have plays, field trips, and award ceremonies. Ireland has kindergarten graduation and they all have choir concerts, piano recitals and tons of paperwork to be field out for next school year.

One great thing for next year is that we will be dropping down to only three schools. That doesn't sounds like a huge difference, but Zakary, Megan and Quinton will be attending the same schools as the other kids. Finally after five years the kids will be able to either carpool or walk together to the same schools. That is huge! Previous school day schedules included myself getting up and driving Tyler to school across town. Then I would then rush back to the house and in 15 minutes jump in the shower and get ready for the day, encourage the other kids to finish getting ready and then race back with the other three kids across town to their school while Janese took Madison, Tanner and Makena to school and Ireland to preschool. If my three were not going to switch schools this next school year I would be getting up at 5:45 am taking Madison and Tyler to early morning seminary, come home and maybe go back to sleep for a few minutes, then take Zakary to middle school and then come home again to turn around again and take Megan and Quinton to elementary school. What a relief!

I think Janese has mixed emotions about this school year coming to a close. She will get to sleep in throughout the summer, well as much as you can with 8 kids thundering around in the morning, but she will also have eight kids running around the house wanting to do this and do that and to be taken here and there and hearing them say those two dreaded words as a parent during summer break, "I'm bored".

I am excited that we are at the end of the school year for the kids. This is a fun time for everyone even though it plays havoc on our calendars and gas mileage.

Origins of Swine Flu

The true origins of the swine flu pandemic. Who could have known that such a devastating form of influenza, (technically "devastation" is still to be proven) was caused by such a cute, innocent little baby. Beware moms! While nuzzling up to that little sweetheart of yours, you could become the next victim.

Rumors that the "dog flu" is on the rise could not be confirmed.