Post-Triathlon

In Kerrville, after Isabelle's triathlon we decided to get breakfast so we went into a little cafe. Ordering our food came with the usual questions; what side do you want with that, etc. and finally the waitress came to Abby.

Abby: I want eggs and pancakes.

Server: And how do you want your eggs, sweetie?

Abby: Ummm, cooked.

The entire cafe heard and she was a big hit!

My Funny Kids

Fred: So Abby, are you happy that Mikkel is marrying Lise?

Abby: Yes... but I don't think I want to see all that kissing.

Daniel: Mommy, my leg hoats (hurts) right here by my knee. I think it must be a bunion...

Saturday Funnies

Daniel: Mom, tan us play in the spwintlowes? (sprinklers)

Me: No

Daniel: Why? Tuz it's Towesday? (Thursday)

Jacob: I really want to meet H-E-B Buddy (H-E-Buddy is the local grocery store's "mascot")

Isabelle: I got to see him the other day.

Jacob: How does he spend all his days? Maybe he's retired...

Conversations with Daniel

Daniel - Papa, you should nevo eat haio. (never eat hair)

Papa - Why?

Daniel - Betuz! it's not healfy!

Daniel (to himself after going potty) - Oh no, my penis is not modest... betuz it is naked. I should make it modest and get dressed...

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Conversation at dinner today...

Jacob: Mom, Santa isn't real is he.

Me: What do you think?

Abby: Santa is TOTALLY real!

Jacob: Oh yeah, then why do we get presents from other people too?

Me: Jacob, you gave me a present for Christmas... That doesn't mean Santa's not real.

Daniel: SANTA IS WEEL... AND I LOVE THE TOWN BETUZ THAT'S WHEOW HE TUMS!!!

Jacob: I don't know, maybe he is real...

Fun

Daniel: (snuggling up on my lap) Mommy, why do you need tids? (kids - he "fronts his sounds so 'k' and 'g' sound like 't' and 'd')

Me: Well... ... ... because I wanted to have a family to love and care for. To have that, I needed to have kids.

Daniel: But, tids don't mate sense.

Me: (thinking - Oh don't you know it!)

Daniel: Being a tid is fun!

More Pictures

The next Wolverine...
Clothespinning at H-E-BNap time!
Abby left a surprise in our shower...

Photos

Jacob lost a few teeth...

8/23/10
Abby, wearing her 'short-sleeved pants'

8/31/11
First day of school - 2nd grade - 8/22/11
First day of school - Kindergarten - 8/22/11
Graduation day! 6/7/11

School Days

Me: Hey Abby, how was school today?

Abby: REALLY great.

Me: Why?

Abby: Because we found out that the gingerbread man is REAL!

Jacob: No he isn't, it's just Mr Taylor in a costume!

Abby: No! He isn't big, he's kinda little!

Jacob: Well, then he's just a kid in a costume!

Abby: No! Because he doesn't have any hair... just crumbs!

Jacob: Well, then he's just a kid in a crumby costume!

Later...

Abby: Mom, we had a fire drill today. But it wasn't real, it was just for practice. If there was a real fire we would just run around the room screaming.

Still later...

Abby: We got to watch a movie today on that paper tv that you pull down from the ceiling with a string. We should get a paper tv someday.

"Tyuteness"

Daniel: (while brushing my hair) Mommy, we need to covo up yous eaows (cover up your ears)

Me: Why?

Daniel: Betuz, nobody likes eaows. Etcept mine... mine awe tyute!

Jacob's Business Plan

Jacob: Mom, I want to get on an airplane and go visit AnneMarie.

Me: How are we going to pay for that?

Jacob: Well, we could go up in the attic and get all our stuff from the past and sell it in a garage sale.

Me: We don't have anything 'from the past' in our attic.

Abby: What?!? Well, what are attics for then???

Mikkel and Lise - December 21, 2011

Okay, I'm sure everyone knows by now that Mikkel is engaged.

A little about her:

Lise Gorman (pronounced 'Lisa') and Mikkel have known each other since the first Wednesday we moved to Texas. They were about 14 when they met at mutual and she saw something in him right away. He, of course, was gloomy and angry all the time (what 14 year old boy isn't?) and wasn't interested in Texas girls... he wanted to go back to Arizona.

Her dad is currently the bishop of our previous ward (we've lived in only 1 home but will soon be placed in our 3rd ward... the church is growing out here!) and her mom is super-talented and amazing!

She's the oldest of 5 kids and is perfect for Mikkel! She challenges him in all the right ways and he calms her in all the right ways. We've always loved her and her family.

She is an Applied Mathematics major at BYU-I and is currently thinking about becoming an actuary. She's super smart and very spiritual... have I mentioned how much we love her?!?

They wrote each other a little on his mission but weren't any more than friends. When he got home, she was still away at school so they started talking, skyping, texting, etc. and soon things started to grow. On her birthday, he took her to breakfast and popped the question. She's getting ready to go back to school in a few weeks and will be home just in time for their December 21 wedding!

Have I mentioned how awesome she is?

Can't wait for this new chapter!

Hahahaha!

Jacob: (to Mikkel) Did you ask mom if you could kiss Lise?!?

Mikkel: Uuhhh, no?

Jacob: I'm gonna tell on you, you're supposed to ask mom first!

Magic!

Me: Daniel, why did you pee your pants?!?

Daniel: It wasn't me!

Me: Well, if you didn't pee your pants, who did?

Daniel: Weeelll, maybe they're magic pants!

Things My Kids Say...

Daniel: "Mommy this clock says that I can't go to bed because I don't know how to sleep."

Daniel: "Mommy, I got sick betuz I have dust mites in my body, and they make me tof. (cough)"

Daniel: "My fwoat hoats (throat hurts) when I swallow *swallows*... see?"

Abigail: *singing* "You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out... and you shake it all about, you do the hokey smokey and you turn yourself about..."

Mikkel: "Abby, what are you going to make me for dinner?"

Abigail: "I can't make you dinner because mom won't let me cook on a leftover flame!" (we have a gas oven and I told her she couldn't cook over an open flame)

Abigail: "Mom! Daniel's coloring with a pregnant marker!"

For the Men in My Life - Father's Day 2011

One night last week at girls camp, our bishop came up and taught an amazing lesson. He spoke about men of honor.

First he asked us what we thought it meant to be a man of honor. Among the answers were: chivalrous, hard-working, someone who desires to use his priesthood wisely, loving, kind, brave, someone who aspires to be a great husband and father... and the list went on. He then spoke about how we as women can inspire the men in our lives to be men of honor - basically by being women of honor.

As he was speaking, I started thinking about the men in my life; a dad who taught me all about how a man should be, is a great example to my family and others, a man who sacrificed so much to be there for me - always - I don't remember a single performance he didn't attend, taught me how to work, who loves me and is pleased with the woman I have become. A son who served an honorable mission; putting off school, girls, friends and being able to make money for two years so he could share the gospel with people in Mexico, who was a great example to the rest of my kids and all he knows. A father-in-law who was willing to listen to 2 young men, was brave enough to become the first in his family to join the church and raised my husband to be an honorable man. Brothers-in-law who, living or not, inspire me to be a better, kinder person.

And, of course a husband who tries so hard to be a great husband and father, works many hours to provide so well for my family, puts up with a CRAZY wife (sometimes, at least), fulfills his callings with so much preparation, prayer and true concern for those he teaches, studies how to be a better father and works to implement all the principles he learns, who will get up in the middle of the night and give one of our children, or someone else's sick or injured child, a priesthood blessing, who loves the crazy life we have and wakes up every morning ready for a new adventure, who is an amazing handyman and saves our family tons by being tenacious enough to fix things around the house/cars - even when he doesn't know how (he buys a book or looks it up on the internet and learns), a man who knows the Lord loves us and trusts in Him - even when things are scary or hard, who sometimes doesn't get appreciated enough - at work or at home, a man who is perfect for me in every way.

To all the men in my life:

Thank you for being a part of me - whichever way you are - thanks. You've helped me want to be a woman of honor and continue to show me, and my children how to be a man of honor.

Pictures

Putting the finishing touches on Maverick's duct tape zoot suit.

Almost ready.

Walking out the door.
The boys in their Missionary poses. Abby just being darn cute.

Mikkel's post-mission facial hair - look REAL close, use a magnifying glass if necessary, you'll see it!

Isabelle and Matt at band banquet.

Two Months of Updates

Since Mikkel got home, I've had very little time on the computer but when a few people asked me why I hadn't written in a while (people that I didn't even know read my blog!) I decided it was time to assert myself and kick him off the computer for a while.

I decided that his homecoming deserved it's own post but now I'll just fill everything else in.

Mikkel: He got home too late to apply for fall semester. I was trying to get his application in on time but kept running into problems trying to get transcripts/SAT's (maybe it was meant to be). One of the first things he did was apply for winter semester at BYU and BYU-I. He's been accepted to BYU-I but won't find out about BYU until early November. He's confirmed with Idaho so for now he can get housing, etc situated in Rexburg. If he gets accepted to BYU, he'll have to make a decision but won't worry about it now.

It took a month but he finally found a job at TGIFriday's. He's currently a host but has been told that he'll be trained as a server very soon. He's looking for a second job, he figures he's used to working 60 hours a week so it won't seem like too much. Plus - he needs to pay for school!

Isabelle: She got accepted to BYU. After much prayer and fasting, she decided to go to BYU-I. She's majoring in music and will probably focus a lot of her other classes on farm animal-type studies. She's rooming with a great friend who is a junior there and will be a big help getting her college life figured out.

She made duct tape clothes with a friend for prom and they're hoping to win a scholarship through the 'Duck Tape Stuck at Prom' contest. Their picture will be on the website soon and you can go on to vote for her and her date. The couple with the most votes win a $15,000 prize to be split evenly between themselves and their high school.

During duct-tape-dress-making, she was in water polo regionals in which her team took 3rd place. This also took them to the state tournament in Houston where they took 13th. The O'Connor girls team decided to take that opportunity to dye their hair neon pink. She had a stripe right in front and one half-way back. It did look pretty cool, but the school won't allow any "un-natural" hair color... pretty sure that includes pink. So, after several days of wearing a hat during passing periods (her teachers don't care - only the administrators) she decided it was too hot (we did have temps in the 90's that week) and dyed it back.

She's been busy with Jazz festivals and competitions too. Her teacher discovered that she can also sing so she's become a big part of their show. She went to the band awards banquet and won the award for Best Female Jazz Performer. The band banquet is fancier than prom so we re-worked an immodest dress and she was able to wear it that night and also last night at Mormon Prom.

Jacob: He's been taking private swim lessons and has confidence in the water now! He has a great coach that he really looks up to - apparently that was all he needed. He's been swimming since his second class! He has been spending the last two weeks exercising so he can be ready for second grade... I have no idea where that came from!

Abigail: She's also taking swimming from the same coach. She's not quite as coordinated in the water as I expected, but she's fearless and is doing great. She's counting the minutes until Kindergarten. She's also exercising to be ready for school...

Daniel: He's taking swim lessons from a different coach and just has her wrapped around his finger. She loves his personality and assertiveness, I don't know what he does or says but I see him making her laugh - a lot! He started up again with speech therapy at the elementary school so we get to see Jacob on his way to lunch all the time now. He's doing well but I have to admit I'll be so sad when he actually starts to say "Okay, Mommy" instead of "Otay, Mommy".

So, there's our previous two months - in a nutshell. I'll post pictures soon.

Mikkel's Homecoming

March 10, 2011 - we got up EARLY to drive out to Houston and pick up Mikkel. We drove there because his original itinerary had him on layover in Houston for 3 hours and he asked if there was a way we could just come get him there. It's a 3-4 hour drive each way so we'd get home about the same time as he would have flown in and he just wanted to see his family - I know the feeling!

So, we got on the road around 6am, his flight was scheduled for arrival at 10:10am. Along the way I would check out flight tracker to show the kids about where his plane was. I also had the airline website queued up so we could keep an eye on it.

Early on, the airline said the plane was leaving late and would be into Houston at 10:30am so we stopped to get some egg mcmuffins to hold us over until lunch. Each time I checked the website, the same information kept popping up. That is, until we were about 30 minutes away and suddenly... the flight was scheduled to be in at 10am. It was now about 9:50. I kept praying that he would be detained in customs (not for long, just 20 minutes was all) so we would be there to meet him instead of him waiting for us on the curb. Flashbacks of "The RM" were racing through my head.

We drove up to the terminal and Fred said "just hop out, I'll park and meet you there". So we did - except it was the wrong terminal... luckily though the right terminal was connected to the one we were in so it was just a little longer run to get there in time (and believe me, we were running!)

Just as we made it into the lobby area where we were told to go, I was searching to see if he was sitting around, waiting for us when Isabelle yelled out "Mom, there he is!" I looked to my left and he was just strolling out of customs (where he was not detained) and through the doors to us. Of course, I yelled out "Mikkel!" (at the top of my lungs which got everyone's attention) and ran to him. He barely could put his bags down before I hugged him so tight he probably thought I'd suffocate him.

Isabelle was the designated photographer but got caught up in the mood so we didn't get too many there in the airport but here are a few of the good ones:

These are the soccer jerseys he bought everyone.

So, after all that commotion Fred and I got in touch with each other and he was still looking for a parking space. I told him to just come pick us up since we were done there anyway. It was a little crazy and I have to say I'm grateful for smart phones... we had so much more information at our fingertips because of those! Of course, we probably wouldn't have stopped at McDonalds without that information too... Oh well, it all worked out and we were so excited to see him that nothing else mattered anyway!

After we got home, we had some friends come over for hot fudge brownie sundaes - his "first request meal" and then went to see the Stake President who then released him from his full-time mission. Here we are just before we went to the church - he's wearing a tie he discovered in the MTC that was made out of pajama pants:
By the way, he didn't wear that tie to meet with the Stake President.

Daniel - Mom... mom... mom... SISTER DEAL!

That got my attention!

College-Bound

Isabelle got an email from BYU-CES today. She got into BYU-I! This is her first choice so she's thrilled. We're still waiting to hear from BYU, but since they don't have the right animal science program, she prefers Idaho.

She had chosen Colorado State but she decided one day that instead of majoring in Equine Science she should major in Music and minor in Animal Science. Also, CSU would be about $38,000 per year versus BYU ~$12,000 and BYU-I ~$7,000 per year. We all like those numbers better!

Update on Isabelle's Hand

Well, I took Isabelle to the doctor and just to be sure they x-rayed her hand. Just as we thought, it's soft-tissue damage (yippee!) and she told Isabelle to ice it, take ibuprofen and keep it braced (pretty much what I told her to do but since the doctor said it, she'll actually do it now). Anyway, she's missed 2 piano lessons and has had to practice only with her left hand for a while - BUT - she's feeling much better and has started playing both-handed again. She says she can tell before she overdoes it that she needs to stop so that's nice. Usually you don't know until you've overdone it and it's too late!

So, she played in the jazz festival at Texas State University and did an awesome job. I didn't go because Daniel is sick, but Fred said our band sounded amazing and she solo-ed (is that even a word?) perfectly! She will be able to do all she needs to in the next few months after all. Now, I just hope she makes it through water polo season uninjured!

Snow Day

This is what we woke up to on Friday morning. I'll walk you through our morning.

5am - Jacob wakes up with leg pains (growing pains can be so awful!). I give him tylenol and send him back to bed. I check NISD website to check for school closures (sleet had started falling last night so I figured there might be news on that).

5:30am - Just as I'm sleeping the computer (yes, school is closed, no seminary... I can go back to sleep and doze late today - yippee!), Daniel wakes up and wants breakfast. Dozing plans trashed...

We look out the window to see this:

Just to document the occasion:

Continued...

Snow Day 2

6am - Fred leaves for work (having checked to see if his big meeting had been rescheduled... no, it hadn't)

7am - the kids are up, dressed, fed... we go out to play! Daniel isn't so sure about this cold. I'm thinking he'll be one of those people who lives in the tropics all his life.

The goat comes out for a walk... she needs some exercise after being stuck in a pen in the garage for 3 days of sub-freezing temps.

Daniel still isn't so sure about the cold, but trying to have a good attitude about it all...

8am - The girls decide to build a snowman. We have to pull out the shovel (just a regular garden shovel... we don't have snow gear here) and pile up snow so they can get enough to do it.
Continued...

Snow Day 3

8:30am - Here's our finished product! The snow was nice for skiing... very powdery... not so good for snowmen. It took a while and a few tries to get it done.
The kids with our snowman. Yep, he's tiny... Hey, this is Texas - we only got about 1/2 inch sticking on the ground!
Here are all the kids from the cul-de-sac who braved the early hour and came out to play. Some of the kids actually slept in on this snow day (my original plan - thwarted )
Duchess came out again... didn't like the cold, slippery snow at all.
But she warmed up to it - sort of.
No picture here, but at nine-ish Fred came home because at about 6:20 (after he checked for meeting changes and left for work), the meeting was rescheduled for another day. Isabelle promptly hit him with snowballs.

Primary Lesson

The kids tell me what they learned in Primary each Sunday on the way home from church. Today, this is what Abby had to say:

"Joseph Smiff went in the forest to pray and then it got really dark. He prayed to get him out of there. Then he asked Heavenly Father and Jesus which church to go to and they said 'the white one, where Abby goes' "

Isabelle

Fred's birthday was Sunday and so to celebrate, Isabelle got a speeding ticket. The good news is that she can take a class to get it taken off her record, of course - when she will take said class I have no idea! The bad news is that because we just got another car, she's the primary driver of one of the three and that means our insurance just went up by $34 per month... bummer. All this just in time for us to add Mikkel back on to our insurance which will mean another $? per month. Fun. :)

Also, she was shearing and bathing her goat on Sunday night (to get ready for the "BIG" show today) and he stepped on her hand. He weighs 105 lbs. and just slammed his foot down as hard as he could. It's swollen and really hurts. In fact, she couldn't even show him today. She had to ask someone to do it for her. Even so, he took 9th place (out of 18) so he made the sale and she'll get some money out of it - hopefully.

The injured hand is a problem because it's time for all the jazz festivals and competitions. She's supposed to be accompanying 2 people for their solo competitions in less than a month. She's also IN said competition herself. There are also several state and regional ensemble competitions she's supposed to be in soon. I have no doubt her hand will heal in time for these... it's just that it won't heal in time to practice for them. For now I have her braced up, icing it and taking ibuprofen and tylenol. She's seeing the doctor tomorrow. I just hope she doesn't need to get a cast, that would end her piano career for the next 2 months for sure. This is also at the time when she needs to be auditioning for the music program at BYU (as soon as she's accepted). Crossing my fingers!

Funny Kids

Abby: "Mommy, when I grow up I want to work at the BuyMore and you can take me there."

Jacob: "Abby, she will be old then."

Abby: "Well, some old people know how to drive!"

Just a side note... my kids LOVE Chuck. We've invested in the first three seasons on DVD (thinking Mikkel would probably like it and it would be a good intro back into real life for him) and they ask to watch it quite often. If you don't know what I'm talking about, watch it - it's on Monday nights at 7 on NBC.

The Pledge of the Legions

Abby:

I pledge the legions to the president and for the plublance for witches belongs. To infinity and beyond. Invisible with liver trees and Justin Bieber for all.

I just happened upon this video taken of Daniel (probably around 18 months ago). He discovered a metal bowl and was having a grand time.

Reverently, Quietly...

I try to keep our kids reverent - well, at least quiet - during church, so I made a book with different laminated pictures from the LDS distribution center. Abby was looking at it today.

"Here's Jesus talking to Mary after He was resurrected."

"Here's Jesus and the children."

"Oh, and here's the snow white temple!"

For All You 'Chuck' Fans

On the way to pick up Fred from work

Abby: "Mommy, does Daddy work at the BuyMore?"

Later

Abby: "Mommy, can we go to the BuyMore where Daddy works and get some cheeseballs?"

Even later

Jacob: "Abby, Chuck isn't real, like a cartoon. Only it's for grownups."

Mikkel Edward Deal - 11 January 1990

Happy birthday to my first-born. Mikkel, you are one of the apples of my eye (I have five others, you know). I remember how badly I wanted you to join our family... until labor really got going and the pain got so bad, I decided I didn't want a baby anymore. Dad kept reminding me how happy I was to have a baby until I finally yelled "Well, I changed my mind!". Then, of course, the epidural kicked in and I remembered that yes, I truly was excited for you to be a part of our lives.

I thought I knew a lot about caring for babies. I was more prepared than your average first-time parent, but no matter how many foster babies we had it was not the same as being the only mom 24/7. I made lots of mistakes and you have definitely been our "guinea pig" child. I'm very impressed how you've survived and sometimes even flourished despite all the things we've had to learn on the job.

I'm so pleased with the man you've become. You're a great example to everyone around you, even to people you don't know. Every chance I get I'm telling anyone who'll listen about your mission and all that's involved. I know you don't think it's a big deal but there really aren't too many people who are willing to take two years away from their lives and dedicate themselves completely to the Lord's work. Even people who are older and have no kids at home, no debt and plenty of time/money have a very hard time making the commitment you've so willingly made.

Being a parent is truly not for wimps... there are times I've felt completely unprepared and the wrong one for this job; but it's all worth it and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you and can't wait to hold you in my arms again in just 58 more days.

I hope you've had a great birthday and many more to come.

Abby - "Can I have some of your caffeine?"

AnneMarie - (drinking some coke) "No, it's mine."

Daniel - "IT'S NOT CAFFEINE, ABBY! IT'S SODA!!"

Abby - "AnneMarie, can I have some of your caffeine?"

AnneMarie - "No."

Abby - (Hands on hips and looking very annoyed) "I hate water! I need caffeine!"