The Scoop(s):

1. 
   We heard back from the geneticist at Primary Childrens regarding Aaron's lab tests. The doctor very non-chalantly told us that Aaron does not have acyl-carnitine translocase deficiency, but rather - a glycogen storage disease. With how soothing his voice was - I felt like this was a huge improvement. Aaron's body doesn't store glycogen well (glycogen breaks down glucose for energy); therefore, Aaron's body uses other pathways for energy, which has been what has made him ketonic (spelling?) - that's what he has been hospitalized for. He then told us to just make sure Aaron has a high complex-carbohydrate diet ... and then to give him corn starch mixed with chocolate milk every night before he goes to bed. VERY easy - Tyler and I were relieved. So - today, I did some internet research on glycogen storage disease ... and HOLY COW - I'd rather Aaron have the translocase deficiency. According to the research I did - Aaron must have an extremely mild case ... and even still, I'm stressed out. I'll be calling the doc tomorrow to find out why he was sounding so unconcerned about this diagnosis. But, in the mean time - Aaron has been so healthy and energetic - entirely symptom free.



2. 
   We wanted to go to Baskin Robbins tonight for the 31cent ice cream cones. We've been planning it all week. However - when we drove past BR ... the line wrapped ALL the way around the store. Crazy. And even MORE crazy - it is FREEZING cold and icy windy tonight. So - now not only is it crazy ... it's stupid. Seriously - people were out there with little kids shivering. Do they really think ice cream is going to taste good after freezing nearly to death waiting? Needless to say - we did not go. We hit good ol' faithful Carls Jr. instead. :)



3. 
   
   We are anxious to get a garden in now that we have our own land (yippee!) However, we are pretty much clueless as to how to do this successfully. We purchased a variety of seeds of plants that we are excited to eat ... and I checked out many books from the library on growing vegetables ... but, seriously - they are not quite in English entirely. There's a lot of scientific procedure-ing that needs to go on, apparantly. I was hoping I could just stick the seeds in the dirt - add water - and voila. Hmmmmmm. Anyway - the soil out here is extremely rocky ... so, I'm considering a "raised garden". Since we don't have a fence - or really a yard at this point, I think that might be a good idea . Any suggestions? Kristy - talk to James for me, k ... give him a reason to look at my blog for once. :)

So - there's the latest scoop(s). Hope all is well with everyone.

Driving.

First of all ... SERIOUSLY!! ($!&#!!$#@!!)


Living in Spanish Fork has led to quite a bit more driving around for us ... considering the 20 minute drive into Orem - about bi-weekly. That may not seem a lot - but, really it is for us (me especially).
As a child, I remember playing all kinds of games in the car with my siblings ... one of the more annoying ones was: As we'd pass different houses along the roads, we'd yell out, "Like it ... like it .... don't like it .... Uuuuuuuugly .... Loooooove it" - depending on what we thought of each house we passed. NOW - as a parent - I spend many moments with gritted teeth and oncoming headaches in the car. :)
We have a 3 strike rule in the car - once a child hits that 3rd strike - he/she loses some priviledge. Marissa inevitably gets 3 strikes - bless her heart. She is just so loud. I'm sure Melynda understands the pain :).

Anyway - here are some of the more fun moments in the 20 minute freeway drive into "town". haha.

Quick! Blog ... Has it really been a week?

Here's the piano room (front room). I love LOVE my piano! And I love that I can call it MINE! :)

One of these days we'll get some couches for this room ...

I couldn't leave out this cute pic of Aaron. He dug through the newspaper to find the "Sports" section to read during lunch. He watches his Dad closer than Ty'll ever know. :)

We've been enjoying the outdoors. We had the most relaxing spring break EVER - and did absolutely nothing all week. The kids played and played and played - and I read probably 3 books and played the piano. Very nice. Aaron almost has a 2-wheeler mastered. I need to take pictures of that!

Change

1. We got our first utility bill about a week and a half ago. Have I paid it yet? No. However, I DID immediately take it into the Spanish Fork library for proof of address so I could get a library card. And THEN - the librarian told me that for the next two months I can only check out 10 items at a time. Now, maybe 10 items seems like a lot to you - but, between me and my kids - we usually have about 15-20 out at a time + a movie or 2. But - ya know ... we'll live. In the mean time - I went out to Orem library to return some books and pick up another book I had on hold. I have had books on hold there for months and months waiting for my turn ... some of them are getting really close. Anyway - I told the librarian at Orem that my address has changed - and gave her our SF address. To my surprise, she then informed me that in order to use the Orem library now - I need to pay $80.00 annually for a non-resident library card. Wow. I was ultimately saddened - all my waiting for those books - I wasn't sure what to do. So, I left with the forms to fill out. When I got home, I got online to the SF library - and put all the books on hold that I've had on hold at the Orem library. Lo and behold - 3 of them were IN - and all the rest I was NUMBER ONE on hold. :)!! So long Orem library - you've been a good friend. Helllllllllllooooooooo SF library! haha.
   
2. 
   
   We've been trying really hard to not eat in our new family room ... eating in the family room at our condo was pretty much standard. Needless to say, it's been a challenge - Tyler and I don't follow that rule hardly at all. The kids .... well, as you can see from Marissa's picture above - they are creative. Just lay right down on the kitchen floor to eat. Comfy there, Miss?
   
   
3. Our new ward is HUMUNGOUS ... and young. We feel like the oldest people in church every week ... and yet, we are just part of the huge crowd. VERY different from the ward we came from ... it'll be a huge adjustment. Most of the people in our ward are also fairly new ... meaning - they've lived in the ward less than a year ... so, socially - Ty and I are really going to have to put ourselves out there (not something we are real talented at). Sigh. But - we'll get there.

I finished the book "Running with Angels" a while back, but I am SO glad that I read it - and still think about it lots. It is one of the most motivating books I've read about change. It really put things into perspective for me - and helped me realize that every little bit counts AND helps. I also appreciated the gospel insight the author tied in with the struggles and successes she experienced. I highly HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone.

5. So - change ... we can make it work AND be good, right?

Happy Birthday, Miss Krystal!

Well - my baby is THREE YEARS OLD!!!! Tyler and I are in shock a little. We sure love our sweet Krissy Kris - life would be pretty dull without her. I took many pictures of her on the morning of her birthday - and then no more. She had a very fun day with her best friend, Hanna. And today - we spent a wonderful afternoon and evening with both families. She is one lucky girl ... and we're lucky to have her. Love you Krys!

Yeah - uh - she slept in her clothes the night before her birthday ... but, her hair managed to wake up A-MAZE-ing, huh? We made her a yummy breakfast ... which she preceded to wear her new helmet throughout. THEN - she got ready for the day and is looking very darling.

What would we do without Marissee-roo ... she cleaned up breakfast and then took Krystal bike riding. Krystal's 3rd birthday was the first day she was able to pedal independently. Way-ta-go! Good teaching, Miss!

A Little History?

We're all feeling quite a bit better. Tyler even made it into work today. So, today after dinner - we decided a short venture outside the house would do us all a world of good. We trecked the short 1/4 mile through our backyard to the old, run down sugar beet factory. It was pretty amazing up close and personal.

We tried to look up something, ANYTHING about this factory and what happened to it. We've HEARD that it is a registered Historical Monument - and we've HEARD that it might eventually be turned into a museum. However, we can find no information at all on line. Does anyone know anything about this specific Spanish Fork factory? What year it was built? How long it was up and running? It's pretty blackened all over - was there a fire? We were hoping to turn our venture into more of an educational experience for the kids, but we are at a loss. Any ideas of where to look?

Anyway - we had a great time. We didn't go inside very far - just a step or two ... and even THAT freaked Marissa out so bad - Tyler and I had to chuckle. We walked all around the outside, and the kids loved seeing the huge bull dozers and machinery surrounding the building.


So - this is our backyard this Summer ... until the rest of the houses are finished behind us (one more road). It'll be interesting to see what is done there. We're not sure if it's being cleaned up or what right now. People are working there during the day sometimes. Anyway - let us know if you have any info. Thanks!

Sickos.

Yep - ya might as well just start calling us that. Tyler has been couped up all week with bronchitis. He pretty much coughs non-stop. The other night, I heard Krystal crying downstairs at 1:00 in the morning. I ran down and scooped her up and got her back to sleep. The next morning, when we asked her why she went downstairs in the middle of the night, she said, "I was getting Daddy a throw-up bowl". How sad is that? :(

We all have the sniffles and are hoping for them to be minimal. We're just trying to stay warm, eat healthy ... and, I guess I better get to bed, huh?

Love you all!

Long Post ... but SUPER FUN day!!

We started today off with Dad's yummalicious thinnies. Mmmmmmm, Mmmmmmm good. Then we all cozied up for the first session of conference ... I think this is a picture of the first session ... mighta been the second.

We for sure pulled out Guitar Hero the second after each session ended. And the kids got plenty dirty climbing the mountains :). Oh - and although I don't have pictures ... we had an awesome lunch and dinner too. We pretty much ate yummy food all day.


Krystal and Hanna were angels all day. They kept busy playing and playing and playing. I couldn't resist this cuddly pic of Kristy and James .... awwwwwww. And - here's good ol' dad ... defying gravity. How he slept like that for half a session, I'll never understand. If only his mouth had been open just a tiny more - we could've tossed hot tomale candies right in there. Hahahaha. Love you TWOOOOO many dad ... and many more.



For some reason - I took tons of pictures of us watching conference. haha. Kendra got these really cute "conference booklets" for the kids. (I also got the ones you sent, Lex - thanks!!) So ... Marissa (and Melynda :)) kept busy. Also couldn't resist this AWESOME shot of me. Wow. Ethan did a fabulous job of keeping us smiling ... as always.


And, I tried to get more of my decorating done in the rooms since everyone was coming over today. I'm not quite all the way there - but, the rest will have to continue to wait. Here is what we've finished in Marissa and Aaron's rooms. Cute, yeah? Marissa embroidered (I have no idea how to spell that - just sound it out) the "DREAM" sign she hung on her wall ... and the pillow on her bed. Isn't that terrific? We'll get pictures in the frames eventually.

Su..weeeeet Niblets!!

We are the lucky and proud owners of tickets to Stadium of Fire ... and, more importantly .... Miley Cyrus!!! We are so excited.

Hope everyone is enjoying Conference today. We sure are!!

You know you're a great parent when ...

The other day, Aaron got THE cutest letter from one of his friends in his kindergarten class and ward in Orem (see below). I know ... she is an amazing writer for a kindergartener. Wow.

Anyway ... Aaron naturally wanted to write her a letter in response. So, tonight, as he was writing the letter - he was asking quite often how to spell certain words. His last sentence he wrote in his letter was "We can be pen pals!" When he started the first letter of that sentence - he piped up, saying, "Oh - I don't need help with this word. We ... [W - I - I], right mom?" Yeah. I'm feeling pretty good right about now.