Trying to get back to normal...

When we got home from our trip to Idaho, the very next day I had both Andrew and Nick feeling very sick. I took everyone into the doctor and it turns out that Nick and Andrew both have ear infections and bad colds. I asked the doctor to please take a look inside Ben's ears too. His only symptom was that he wasn't hearing well. I was thinking it probably was that his ears hadn't popped yet and he needed to acclimate from the elevation change. But sure enough he had an ear infection too. The doctor said his was the worst! Just for good measure I had him check Tatiana and she was fine so I didn't have to pay a co-pay on her. Wow! All three boys sick and my girl escapes it!

So the rest of our spring break was spent mostly at home watching movies, playing games and relaxing. I had big plans to go to the coast and the zoo and other places, but the kids were sick and then it started to rain by the end of the week anyways. Bummer. We did manage to go see the movie "How To Train Your Dragon"! It was really good and I recommend it! We didn't take Ben because we weren't sure if it would be too scary for him and I was right. There is some scary stuff at the end, but it is great for kids ages 6??? and up. As long as they don't mind animated dragons and what comes with it.

Now you are probably impressed that I am caught up in my blogging, I know I know, it doesn't happen very often. Well first of all, I do have my new toy, that has helped a lot and I am loving it! Secondly I have been very sick and dealing with a very sick little Andrew too which leaves me very tired and this is pretty much all I have the energy to do. My laundry and dishes are caught up, I did steam clean the boys' bedroom carpet and wash bedding today. But here is the bad parts...

I had to stem clean the carpet because Andrew threw up all over them. He has been sick with the stomach flu and the poor kid was dry-heaving all night and I was sleeping with him on he floor next to the bathroom. I got about two hours of sleep tops and my back is all out now. I also am fight a double ear infection myself and an eye infection and a sinus cold. Can I just have a head transplant PLEASE?!?!?! Yes, the whole thing. Even my brain is not functioning properly.

So that catches you all up. We had a good first half of Spring Break, a crappy second half, saw a good movie though. And now the kids are back in school and I am playing doctor and patient at the Tolman Hospital. We have a whole pharmacy here with all the antibiotics and cold medicines we're taking, geesh! Slowly...trying...to get back to normal....

A stop in the Gorge

On the way home from Idaho the kids still traveled exceptionally well. They are such GREAT kids! The older two are so helpful and all of them are so good-natured. I am just so blessed! They lucked out because I had to stop frequently because my leg was killing me, so they got a lot of breaks to go to the bathroom and get their wiggles out. We finished our book on tape, "Peter Pan and the Starcatchers". It was very good! It is the pre-story of how Peter, Hook, and Tink all came to be. Pretty cool, I recommend it if you have a long road trip coming up.

Here are my four sweeties posing by the Columbia river. The Gorge is so pretty!

We had several curious squirrels wondering if we had any food, we didn't.

Being entertained by the funny squirrels and watching barges go by. Andrew saw the barge, pointed and said, "choo choo! choo choo!" Well, kinda.

Tatiana wanted to use the camera and I love this one she got of Andrew and me being silly and getting out some energy before hitting the road again. It was a beautiful day!!!

Our Spring Break Trip to Idaho

On Friday, March 19th, the four kids and I left for Idaho to see our good friends and spend a few days with them. It was a challenge to get out of town though! First I had an early morning doctor's appointment so I planned on going to that, coming back, loading up the kids and taking off by 10AM. No problem! I had the van all packed the night before, everything was ready, I was totally prepared. HAHAHAHA!!!! As I go out to leave for my doctor's appointment my van wouldn't start! Arg! So I took Nathan's beast of a truck to the doctor's. When I came back I tried jump starting my an with my friend, Heather's, car. It took a while, but we got it figured out. I left home (only 10:30ish, not too bad) and head to Les Schwab. I was hoping they would tell me my battery was fine and we had just left something on accidentally as we were packing up the night before. I didn't think we did, but I was hoping it was just an honest mistake like that. Nope, not so luck. The battery is bad, so 45 minutes and $60+ later, we finally hit the road. Now it is about 11:30AM, only an hour and half behind schedule! I was planning on making more stops on our way, but now we had to drive straight through, pretty much.

The rest of the trip was great though. The kids traveled exceptionally well, we listened to a book on CD and they watched a movie and played together. We stopped for dinner and let them get their wiggles out in a playland, and it was really good drive.

We pulled over on the side of the road so we could stretch our legs and watch these cool paragliders. They kept waving to the kids and flying back and forth overhead. This was pretty neat for the kids!

We finally got to our friends' house around 8:00PM. We made good time. No I didn't speed (too much), but we lucked out with the kids being good and everything going smoothly. Oh, and I also wouldn't let them drink too much so there were no unscheduled potty breaks, yes, I dehydrate my children on road trips, shame on me! Just kidding. They would get Capri Suns about 20-30 minutes before a scheduled potty break stop and we would stop every 2 hours or so for a quick break. My leg was killing me too so I had to stop that often for me!

Here is my friend, Chauntelle, two of her kids, Lisa and Tanner, and Ben checking out some bears. Pretty cool! We were driving by this bear research facility and the bears were out in the viewing cages and she asked us all if we wanted to stop. The older kids all said "no" and Ben said "yes!!!" Chauntelle was very cute, she told them that she is stopping because the younger ones always get the shaft and don't get to do things because the older ones vote against them. So she pulled over, just for Ben. How sweet!

Lisa, Reagan, Nick, and Tatiana playing in the pool at the local college rec center.

Ben and Tanner climbing the backyard tree as Jim made pizzas on the grill! Yummmm!

Grayson being so sweet and playing with Andrew.

The whole gang, minus Andrew who is probably on my hip as I take the picture. Andrew was pretty glued to me the whole time. Come to find out, he had an ear infection! Poor little guy!

McDonalds! Every kids favorite.

Ben and Grayson bowling. STRIKE!

Lisa and Tatiana, born two days apart, and the cutest pair. When I said, "you two are two peas in a pod." Tatiana said, "but I don't like peas." We just laughed.

It was a very fun weekend with our friends. We left on Friday and came home on Tuesday. We all missed Nathan/Daddy and looked forward to getting home to him. Thank you Chuantelle and Jim for all your hospitality! Thank you Reagan, Lisa, Grayson and Tanner for all the fun!

Nick's 1st Time Skiing!

On March 18th, the day after everyone left Hotel Tolman, Nathan and I took Nick Skiing for the first time. It was a fantastic day up on the Hoodoo mountain.

Nick quickly learned that the hardest part about skiing is getting those darn boots on! PUSH!!!

Nathan and his excited son on the ski lift, here we go!!!

Nick and me on the mountain with a beautiful view behind us. He did GREAT! Nick took a lesson for two hours in the morning while Nathan and I went skiing all over the mountain and then we met up with him, went into the lodge for lunch, and then spent the rest of the day skiing. It was great!!! Nick is a natural! After his instruction I asked his teacher, Cheryl, if she thought he was ready to go up on some of the other beginner slopes. She said, "Oh yeah, he's fine. He is a little more advanced then some of these other kids." When I told her that this was his first time ever having skis on, she was quite impressed. So were we!

I have to brag though, I went all over the mountain with Nathan. I went faster and was smoother than I have ever been and I didn't fall, not even once! I almost did a couple times, but had a quick recovery. I consider myself a full fledged skier now, but I am just not quite black diamond ready. Maybe someday!

Nathan and his son with a great view! I was very impressed with both my men! Nick did awesome for his first time and Nathan was tearing it up on the mountain! He was trying all kinds of new things and making it all look so easy! He actually did fall a couple times, but only because he decided to be daring and go off the trail and didn't realize that the snow would be so bad off trail. It was a very warm day so in the morning it was all crunchy ice and then by mid-day it was pretty slushy. So the off trail deeper stuff was really impossible to get through. He did awesome. The only reason he fell and I didn't was because he is a lot more daring than I am! I do think that by next time, Nathan will probably be on some of the black diamonds!

Gooey Caramel Pecan Cake!

This is the cake I made for Connie's birthday celebration. It is soooo good and so rich!

Bake two round devils food cakes. the middle has a gooey caramel pecan filling (see below) and it is frosted with creamy chocolate frosting and I spread the rest of the caramel pecan on top. MMMMMMMMM!

Gooey Caramel Pecan filling (and topping)
20-30 unwrapped caramels
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

Melt all three ingredients together in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently until smooth. (about 6-8 minutes)
Let cool just enough to be spreadable but not runny.

Hey, I said it was delicious, I never said anything about being healthy!!!

A Tolman Reunion...of sorts

Some random photos of our fun day with all the "cousins". Ben kept excitedly telling me how funny his cousins were or what his cousins just said, and I got a pretty constant play-by-play of his cousins. He absolutely loves them! He especially was smitten with "Elias and the girl". The girl's name is Gwendlyn, Ben cannot say her name, but he loves her!

Ben, Elias, and Andrew...

Some of the kids playing the Wii.

Making Leprechaun traps for St. Patrick's Day. Those pesky Leprechauns always seem to attack our house, even though we are not Irish! Karinda's kids had fun being creative and trying to catch one. No success though, those pesky little guys turned our toilet water green, our milk green, left shamrocks all over the house and left green Oreos for the kids!

Having fun with the trains...

Ben and Andrew jumping on the trampoline with Grandpa.

A full house!

We had a very impromptu Tolman reunion a couple weeks ago. First, Nathan parents were coming to town for a quick dental appointment. They were planning on coming in on a Sunday evening and leaving for their Monday morning appointment and then head home from the office. Then Nathan's sister's husband had a conference in Portland and the whole family was able to come out for it, long story but it worked. So long story short, Nathan's parents came in on Sunday night (still had their Monday morning appointment), then Karinda (Nathan's sister) and her five kiddos came in on Tuesday morning, then everyone left on Wednesday morning. It was a fast trip, but a wonderful visit. It was so great to see Karinda and her kids. Her hubby, Kristopher, was at the conference so we will have to catch up with him next time! Sooo, five adults and nine kids were all staying here! Whew! It went great...everyone got along great, nothing went wrong and it was a happy time for all.

Nathan and Karinda...family resemblance?!!!

We had an early birthday party for Grandma. It was great to have the majority of her grand kids there. I made a double layered chocolate cake with a caramel pecan layer and topping. Yum! We took a group shot and put it in a frame that said "Grandkids...If I had known they'd be this much fun, I would have had them first!" That was one of her presents, Karinda also made her a nice crocheted hanging hand towel (she made one for me too, Thanks Karinda!), and we got her a house plant. It was s nice party and the kids had a lot of fun.

Here is one of the many group shots we took of Grandma and Grandpa with nine of their grand kids. They have two others, but they were not here.

Nick's "Best Day Ever"!

Nick went out for a day of fishing and gun shooting with his Dad and his buddy, Henry, and Henry's dad. I was told that at the end of the day both boys declared that it was "the best day ever!"

Measuring out the distance for target shooting...

Nick thought he'd be smart and protect his shoulder with a towel from the kick-back. Did it work Nick? "Still kinda hurt." LOL!

Willy Wonka night!

Nathan and I took Tatiana to the local Middle School play of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". It was an amazing production done by very talented kids, many of which we know well so it was extra fun to watch. I am so impressed with the caliber of talent here. Both the middle school and high school plays just blow me away!

At the end of the night they announced that there are five golden tickets hidden under chairs in the audience and the winners will receive a candy bar. Tatiana won! Her chair had a Golden Ticket! It is funny because, first, Nick was suppose to come with us but he went with his 5th grade class and decided to stay home and hang out with his brothers because he is so sweet like that. So when we got there we sat in a section that had three open seats in a row, no more. So we wouldn't have sat there if Nick came with. So Tatiana said because of that she would share half with her brother. Then I pointed out that that was originally where I was sitting but we switched seats so she could see better. So she also decided to give me a bite. Then Nathan said he was the one that drove her there, so daddy got a bite too. What a goofy, choco-holic family! And what a very fun night!

Tae Kwon Do Belt Test...Ben's First!!!

Nick, Tatiana and Ben all had a belt test in Tae Kwon Do. Nick and Tatiana both earned their green belts and Ben earned his yellow belt with a white stripe. It is the belt level between white and yellow. They break down the belts even more for the really young ones so that they can have the joy of earning a belt and having that accomplishment. I am very proud of all three of them, but I must say Ben was so adorable out there! He was every one's favorite to watch!

Nick and Tatiana had to do a "Flying Side Kick" to pass their belt test. It was super cool because they did the flying side kick over kids who were lying on the flour!!! And the kids were all raising their hands wanting to volunteer to be jumped over, their crazy!

Here, I caught the perfect shot of Tatiana flying over two kids just as she breaks her board! YAHOO!!!! You go girl!

Here is Nick flying over three kids lying there. I was really impressed! Yeah! You rock, Nick!

Ben doing his punching bag endurance...goooo Ben!!!

Ben showing off his front kicks. Isn't he the cutest little karate kid?!

My sweet kids...

Just a couple pictures I had to share. Too cute!


Ben "teaching" Andrew how to use the big potty. No, Andrew is not potty trained, he just like to try it out now and then. These two are very close.

Tatiana reading to her brothers one night. She is such a sweet big sister. They love her so much!

No pics of Nick right now, sorry Nick. But he is also a great, super, fantastic kid!

March 6th...

The week leading up to March 6th was a very hard one for me. March 6th was the three year mark of losing my brother to leukemia. I hated March 6th, it was the day my brother was prematurely taken from us. It was the day that he passed away while I was in the air, flying to OK to say goodbye, it was the day I didn't get to say goodbye. Three years...three years!!! They say that "time heals"...not really. It still hurts just as much, I still cry just as hard. I just have to continue living...for my family, for me. I want to keep living, this is a beautiful life. A life I wish my brother could have enjoyed more of.

During the week leading up to March 6th things kept on happening that brought back hard memories of that time. For example, I was rotating the boys' clothes. Going through their closets and pulling out the things that are now too small and getting the next size down from the attic. I had gotten the size 4-5 box out for Ben. There it was. The shirt that Nick wore to Fort Sill for the tour that they gave us the day before Chris's memorial service. It was very nice of them to give us this tour, we were able to see where he lived out his last healthy days, see where he was so happy. Why was this shirt in this box?! It is a size 6. I got teary eyed, just a few streamed down my cheeks, and I quickly hid it in the bottom of the pile. Only to have it later found by Ben, "Look mom! A superman shirt! I like it!....see mom, it fits!" I try and fail to have him put it back in the pile. He is so excited about this new shirt he found that I let him have it, even though it really is too big. All day, as I see him in this shirt, I am brought back to 3 years ago and reminded how unfair it all is. I cry, a lot. Things like this kept happening all week...it was just hard.

I woke up on Saturday, March 6th, with a resolution to not have a terrible day. To remember him, but to make him proud of me, proud of my strength. I can do this! Right? We started off going to the church to clean, it was our family's turn to help clean. This was a nice feeling to lovingly care for the Lord's building, the same Lord that is with my brother now.

Then I took the kids to their OSU class and went for a run. I wore my ARMY sweatshirt that my brother's captain gave me in Fort Sill. I felt him running with me. I was running with angels. That was also a good feeling.

Then after coming home, showering, and having lunch with my family. I picked up a few friends and we all went to the temple in Portland. It was going to be my dear friend, Rose's, first time through the temple. It was going to be a beautiful day! I, honestly, was a little nervous. This was to be a very special day for Rose, I didn't want to ruin it by breaking down in tears...or even sobs...in the middle of the temple session. I wanted to be happy, happy for Rose, happy for my brother, happy for our Heavenly Father's glorious plan.

It ended up being a most wonderful day! I am so glad I was able to go with my friends to the temple, so happy I was able to share this wonderful day with Rose. Only wishing my husband could have been there too. Not wishing my brother could be there...because he was! I felt him as real as I could feel my friends sitting next to me. I felt of his love...almost could feel him putting his arm around me, reminding me of his love, telling me it was all okay.

Then I had a most amazing experience. As several of my friends and I were standing in the Celestial room, waiting for Rose to come through the door, I felt an excitement that I can only describe as giddiness! I felt, at that moment, that the veil between this world and the next was so thin. I felt the excitement of our loved ones on the other side, their happiness, their warmth. I new in that moment that they are keenly aware of us and are cheering us on from the other side, helping us when we need them most. Just as I was excited for Rose and the wonderful decision she was making and getting so excited as I knew she was getting closer and I would be able to pull her into my embrace and give her a hug, I know my brother and others are excited every time they see me make a good choice, and they see me getting closer to our Father in Heaven. They too are anxiously waiting to embrace me and say, "you did good!"

That is what it is all about, to do good, to live our lives here so that someday, when our time comes, we can dwell with our Lord and Savior, our Heavenly Father, and our loved ones in that glorious warmth and love that I felt so tangibly in the temple. I KNOW my Savior lives. I KNOW He loves us and wants us to return to Him. And I KNOW that he has provided us with the tools and has shown us the path. It is up to us and the choices we make to take his hand, accept His atonement, and walk down that right path. Of this I testify, in the the name of Jesus Christ, amen!

Now I didn't start off this post with the intent of bearing a testimony but I am so full right now, I just had to! I am so grateful also to Rose, for her decision to go to the temple, for her picking March 6th of all days! For turning March 6th into a day to celebrate with Rose and to remember this wonderful experience, not just the hard one three years ago. Maybe I was wrong...maybe time does heal...if you are moving forward.

My new toy!

I know, I am really behind on my posts. But, hopefully that will soon change. I have a new toy that I am using right now! Nathan wanted to get me a "netbook" for Christmas, but they were sold out so I got an "IOU" and while the kids and I were gone for a few days, he delivered! I am very excited about this! I have been wanting to write my life history and compile my poetry and things like that. Now I can take this anywhere and work on it! And, as long as I upload my photos at home, I can work on my blog too! I can also work on things while Nathan is doing his computer work and not have to wait my turn. Too often I do not have time during the day to work on my blog, or other computer things because I am a mom and am trying to be with my kids and doing other responsibilities. But now, as I am supervising the boys outside playing in the backyard, I can be also working on my book, or whatever. Or after the kids are in bed, when Nathan is finishing up computer work, I can get on my netbook and work too along side him. We will see if my plans work and my expectation are met...by me! Now I just have to get use to the new smaller keyboard!

Andrew's Tarzan call...

Nathan taught Andrew how to do the Tarzan call, or the gorilla impression, whichever you prefer...so funny!

Ben singing his ABC's

I had to show you all this. I love his little voice! I love how he says "dubba-who" for "W", and the "LMNOP" part is cute too. And I LOVE that precious face and sweet smile!

Dinosaurs at Preschool

We did a Dinosaur unit in Preschool and it was so much fun!!! I got a tub of sand from the local garden store, printed off a T-Rex skeleton for each child, laminated them and cut them up like a puzzle. Then I buried them in the sand and they dug for the dinosaur bones...

Then pieced the puzzle together to make the dinosaur and identified what they thought it was just like a real paleontologist!

We also had an erupting volcano. The kids loved this and kept shouting, "AGAIN! AGAIN!"

They pressed little toy dinosaurs, dino feet, and shells into hardening clay to make their own fossils too!

"Look at my fossils!!!"

Ben LOVES dinosaurs!!!

Nick's Basketball

Nick's basketball season is over. He had a lot of fun and we really did enjoy going to all the games and watching him. Those games can get very intense! Nick grew in his confidence over the season and we are very proud of him. He is number 9 in the dark green shirt.

Holding the ball in this one, he was about to make a basket when the referee blew the whistle on someone, not Nick of course.

Here he is on the right. He was guarding that kid behind him, but I think he is moving in to help get the ball.

Girl Scout Ceremony

Tatiana and her Brownie troop had a ceremony where they gave the parents the presentation on water conservation that they gave all the classrooms at school. They were presented their final two badges in their Wonders of Water journey. I am very proud of Tatiana and her friends for their growth and leadership!

Adding some finishing touches on their "Water Journey Map". Tatiana is in the green shirt on the right side.

Spring walk...

I love spring in the great northwest! We have been enjoying some beautiful weather lately and the boys, and our dog, have benefited from some nice walks in the neighborhood. I have learned to not go by this great "rock wall" though. It is only a block away and the boys don't want to go any further because I will not let them take any rocks with them so they have to inspect every cool rock they see! Sure hope the neighbors don't mind!


And Crystal is so patient while they explore. Good dog.