We somehow manage to keep ourselves busy & as much as we try to live a quiet 'drama free' life... things seem to find us & 'spice up' our lives. I'm not sure I can handle much more 'spice'!
Rick began CNA classes in February & during his second night of class he was pulled out by the police, taken to the police station & questioned on suspicion of 'homeland terrorism'. I had no idea what was going on until the police showed up at our door wanting to search our home & property for assault weapons. It was scary & stressful & TOTALLY ridiculous- but of course they found NOTHING because there was NOTHING to find. After the police showed me the picture of the man they were looking for- who was skinny with dark hair like Rick but that is it- I knew Rick would be home soon & I was able to breathe a little easier. The police went through everything, read our journals, teased me about all of our food storage & confiscated our computer to search it. Rick didn't get home until after midnight that night.
The kids handled it well & just kept playing in the back bedroom. Except for Gabriel- he came out to check on me & find out what the problem was. He came out & asked- 'Are these cops?' I said 'Yes they are cops.' Gabe looked at me suspiciously & asked ' are they going to corner us?' I giggled & told him they were not going to corner us- I said that they were 'helping' cops. I don't think he believed me because he repeated 'helping cops' as he walked away looking at them sceptically while they continued searching our home. A few minutes later I looked down the hallway & Gabriel was laying on the floor- hanging out his bedroom door with the top half of his body laying out into the hallway, dressed in his Spiderman costume with his Spiderman mask on... SHOOTING HIS DART GUN AT THE POLICE! Luckily the officers were good natured & joked about being in Gabriels 'territory.' I didn't find it very funny at the time but once the police left & Rick was home safely we had a REALLY GOOD laugh about it... & have had quite a few since.
We felt so violated & I was so stressed out that we decided to try to get away from things a little. So when the kids got home from school the next day we packed them up & took off for the weekend- we didn't go too far away just in case we had 'pregnancy issues.' The kids LOVED having a suite with their own room & TV- Sarah claimed the pull out couch & TV in the front room. We hung out & watched TV the first night- just unwinding. The next day the kids played in the pool forever. Then we went to the Mall where Gabe & Rick played in the play land & rode the carousel while I took Ammon & the girls shopping. We hit some AWESOME sales- which Sarah & I were thrilled about because her wardrobe was getting pretty sparse. The kids all jumped & flipped on this bungee/trampoline thingy & thought we were the coolest parents ever. We had dinner at a really yummy & well priced steak house & the kids were in heaven because they all got a free dessert. Rick & I liked the FREE dessert part also. The next day the kids spent the entire day in the pool- except Gabriel who wore out quickly & came up to the room with me to watch cartoons & take a nap. Other than the battery in our car totally dying, having to buy a new one & Rick having to replace it in the hotel parking lot... it was lovely to have a break & turned out to be just what our little family needed.
Since then our computer was returned with a 'we didn't find anything' and an 'apology for the inconvenience'. I had my 33rd Birthday & Rick has returned to CNA class- scoring a 97% on his first test! The girls are enjoying school. Sarah has just completed her first week of Track & she is LOVING IT! Rachel & Gabriel are doing Karate 2 nights a week & have a board breaking contest & a tournament coming up. They really enjoy Karate- especially 'FIGHT NIGHT' as they call it. It's where all of the kids put on protective gear & spar with one another. The Instructors are right there on the floor giving advice, counsel & directions... but the kids pretty much just go at it. They LOVE it! Ammon still isn't interested in crawling- but he has 4 teeth now & likes feeding himself 'real people food'- as Gabriel calls it. He has all of a sudden become a 'daddys boy' & I am NOT IMPRESSED. Rick is loving it... I will admit that it is pretty cute the way Ammon lights up & reaches for him whenever he walks into the room. I have droned on for long enough. Pregnancy has had some bumps here & there but we are doing well, moving right along & are really looking forward to having everyone in our little family here.
Kymball meets Ammon
Kymball meets Gabriel
Kymball meets Rachel
Kymball!!!
Ammon has had his first bloody nose- thanks to a wrestling match with Gabriel. Rachels favorite thing to do is to cuddle Ammon. Gabriel and Sarah like to build forts and get muddy outside. ALL of the kids like to lay outside int eh sun and eat snacks. I LOVE MY KIDS & SUNNY DAYS!!!!!!!
Ricks idea of 'keeping an eye on Ammon' & helping with the dishes! LOL!!!
WE had our Easter egg hunt inside today because the kids didn't get their chores done in time to do it outside when it was warm. Ammon wasn't sure what was going on but he was excited because the other kids were excited. Then he got VERY HAPPY when we let him munch on a peep- his first 'real' treat. I know. I know. Sugar before a year old... but I really don't care. :)
Gabriel loved looking for the eggs and treats with his name on them. He kept saying' I WON! I WON!' then he was SUPER excited to eat his huge chocolate bunny (hollow of course)... and he hasn't stopped eating treats since. My philospophy- 'Go ahead eat it all and make yourself sick, then it will be gone faster and out of the house and your system.' 
Rachel had fun hunting for eggs and treats but I think she had more fun looking at all of the colors, shiny eggs and sparkly eggs. As much fun as it all was I think that she had more fun helping me make pies today and she is the most excited about sleeping over at her Grandmothers house.
Sarah had fun looking for eggs and was, of course, the first one done' hunting'. More than anything she enjoyed sorting all of her candy into piles and categories. Then she wrote down all of the different kinds of treats and how many that she had of each one. She has had a bite or two here and there but I fear her candy will last until Halloween.
We are so grateful and blessed to be together and to have the knowledge of our Saviors love and many sacrifices for us. HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rick began CNA classes in February & during his second night of class he was pulled out by the police, taken to the police station & questioned on suspicion of 'homeland terrorism'. I had no idea what was going on until the police showed up at our door wanting to search our home & property for assault weapons. It was scary & stressful & TOTALLY ridiculous- but of course they found NOTHING because there was NOTHING to find. After the police showed me the picture of the man they were looking for- who was skinny with dark hair like Rick but that is it- I knew Rick would be home soon & I was able to breathe a little easier. The police went through everything, read our journals, teased me about all of our food storage & confiscated our computer to search it. Rick didn't get home until after midnight that night.
The kids handled it well & just kept playing in the back bedroom. Except for Gabriel- he came out to check on me & find out what the problem was. He came out & asked- 'Are these cops?' I said 'Yes they are cops.' Gabe looked at me suspiciously & asked ' are they going to corner us?' I giggled & told him they were not going to corner us- I said that they were 'helping' cops. I don't think he believed me because he repeated 'helping cops' as he walked away looking at them sceptically while they continued searching our home. A few minutes later I looked down the hallway & Gabriel was laying on the floor- hanging out his bedroom door with the top half of his body laying out into the hallway, dressed in his Spiderman costume with his Spiderman mask on... SHOOTING HIS DART GUN AT THE POLICE! Luckily the officers were good natured & joked about being in Gabriels 'territory.' I didn't find it very funny at the time but once the police left & Rick was home safely we had a REALLY GOOD laugh about it... & have had quite a few since.
We felt so violated & I was so stressed out that we decided to try to get away from things a little. So when the kids got home from school the next day we packed them up & took off for the weekend- we didn't go too far away just in case we had 'pregnancy issues.' The kids LOVED having a suite with their own room & TV- Sarah claimed the pull out couch & TV in the front room. We hung out & watched TV the first night- just unwinding. The next day the kids played in the pool forever. Then we went to the Mall where Gabe & Rick played in the play land & rode the carousel while I took Ammon & the girls shopping. We hit some AWESOME sales- which Sarah & I were thrilled about because her wardrobe was getting pretty sparse. The kids all jumped & flipped on this bungee/trampoline thingy & thought we were the coolest parents ever. We had dinner at a really yummy & well priced steak house & the kids were in heaven because they all got a free dessert. Rick & I liked the FREE dessert part also. The next day the kids spent the entire day in the pool- except Gabriel who wore out quickly & came up to the room with me to watch cartoons & take a nap. Other than the battery in our car totally dying, having to buy a new one & Rick having to replace it in the hotel parking lot... it was lovely to have a break & turned out to be just what our little family needed.
Since then our computer was returned with a 'we didn't find anything' and an 'apology for the inconvenience'. I had my 33rd Birthday & Rick has returned to CNA class- scoring a 97% on his first test! The girls are enjoying school. Sarah has just completed her first week of Track & she is LOVING IT! Rachel & Gabriel are doing Karate 2 nights a week & have a board breaking contest & a tournament coming up. They really enjoy Karate- especially 'FIGHT NIGHT' as they call it. It's where all of the kids put on protective gear & spar with one another. The Instructors are right there on the floor giving advice, counsel & directions... but the kids pretty much just go at it. They LOVE it! Ammon still isn't interested in crawling- but he has 4 teeth now & likes feeding himself 'real people food'- as Gabriel calls it. He has all of a sudden become a 'daddys boy' & I am NOT IMPRESSED. Rick is loving it... I will admit that it is pretty cute the way Ammon lights up & reaches for him whenever he walks into the room. I have droned on for long enough. Pregnancy has had some bumps here & there but we are doing well, moving right along & are really looking forward to having everyone in our little family here.
He was cautious on the 4 wheeler at first but is quickly coming into his own and getting more daring! I am just happy that he is getting better at using the brake!
