This Month at the Loony Bin

Dinner is always a crazy time of the day. I've heard it called the bewitching hour! From dinner time on is so LOUD and crazy!!! Since John is usually home for the post-dinner routine it has been a little less stressful. We were cleaning up after dinner and Megan was still sitting in her seat. We hear Ethan laughing hysterically and then he says, "Look! Megan is Darth Vader"! Poor girl...with all her brothers Barbie doesn't have a chance...looks like Princess Leia may take precedence! ha!


Happy Easter!


Megan's March/April Milestones

Sitting up all by herself!Note...NO BOW!! That is for those of you who make fun of me for putting big bows on her poor bald head (John)!



Baby Food! Green beans are yummy!


Mommy of the Year
Last but no least for the month of April I get "The Mommy of the Year" award. Yes, because I am so observant and in tune with the needs of my children...or thought I was...It's no secret Dallen has been a challenge for me. Figuring out his behavior from the time he was 18-months old has been a challenge. Now that we know about his sensory issues I am so glad to know how he ticks!

Yesterday in therapy (OT) we were doing food therapy. He was learning what foods he can eat to either alert or calm his system. In the process of therapy he had to lick peanut butter off of a thick pretzel. Come to find out Dallen is unable to lick. Yes...he can't LICK (who knew that is apparently important). He uses his hands to move the pretzel back and forth to get the peanut butter off. Then, when peanut butter is placed on his upper lip he is unable to use only his tongue to get it off. He gets frustrated and wipes it off with his finger or uses his bottom lip. The OT thought this was very interesting and called in a speech therapist to "take a look". She had him do various exercises and asked about his letter sounds. His "L's" sound like a "W", he has trouble with "R" and there are a couple of others that I was unaware of. Apparently his tongue is "thrusting" and is very weak. When she found out he would be 6 in June she said, "He definitely needs to be evaluated by a speech therapist". She also told me that with motor oral therapy she probably could break his thumb sucking!!! Props to her if she can do it because I am at a loss! Anyway, the speech thing is not anything major but how did I not notice?? What if I had only had the insight to get him in when he was 2? I knew he wasn't talking. I just thought it was because Jaxon talked for him. I even knew he wasn't talking well at 3. What did I do? I sent him to preschool thinking being around kids would make him talk more. When I think of the help I could have given him earlier he would have had a much better experience in preschool and even church. Maybe he wouldn't have had as many other issues at 4 and 5 because we would have already identified the problem. I know I can't "woulda, coulda, shoulda" and say "what if" because he is getting assistance now. I am learning so much and he is getting so much better...I just feel a little bit like I let him down early on. So, here's to the Mommy of the Year!

So, enough pity party. I will say this week two very unexpected things took place. For no reason John brought home a dozen pink roses for me. He called the boys out to his car before he came in and had them each bring a rose in to me then, John brought in the rest.THEN, Friday after work John came home at 6:30 to find me and the kids just sitting on the couch playing Wii. I was feeling really tired from my lovely sinus infection. John just went to the kitchen and made dinner. The evidence is below!


When I saw the apron I couldn't resist taking a picture! ha ha! Who does he think he is? A fireman?? ha ha.

Spring Break in Moab

Last week was spring break. John was lucky enough to get 2 weeks off from work so we headed to Moab with 4 other families. We had a great time even if it was a little colder that we thought it would be. I must say; however, that I was a little out of my comfort zone! This was definately a "boys" vacation!! Since I do have boys I will have to become a little less chicken! Yes, I am a chicken!! I don't mind watching my children ride motorcycles or do other crazy things but when I am the driver or passenger...I fear for my life! What can I say? I have NEVER driven a dirt bike, four wheeler, etc. In fact, until I met John I had never been on a motorcycle! Before we had kids we rode to Yellowstone on his street bike. Then, when I was pregnant with Jaxon we rode to Sturgis. I had a blast and loved going on motorcycle trips! I am thinking that riding a dirt bike or four wheeler (even a Jeep!)off or up steep inclines whether in rock or sand dunes is totally different! I will admit to being chicken!

Now, I did end up having a great time and hopefully will overcome by irrational fears! ha! After seeing Jen ride her motorcycle it gave me new inspiration! I told John that I want to be riding something...I have not decided on 2 or 4 wheels yet...but if my boys are going to do it, I may as well join them!! (eventually)!

Here are some pictures of the trip. Monday we went for a hike through a beautiful canon and then went to Goblin Valley. Tuesday each family rented a Jeep which ended up being really fun after I initially peed my pants! ha! We went on a trail called "Hell's Revenge"...need I say more? After Hell's Revenge we rode on another trail that eventually had us riding through the water. Fun!! Wednesday we went to some sand dunes. The boys were having a blast!! Jaxon tried to ride his motorcycle but the sand was way too soft and deep for his little 50 so he stuck with the little 4-wheelers. Little 4-wheelers may be our next investment! They also really loved riding in the Johnson's Razor, on John's motorcycle, and the bigger 4-wheelers. After some convincing, I took the Fleming's 4-wheeler out where I proceeded to dump poor Dallen right off the back! That's what happens when you don't know what you are doing! ha ha! Thursday we headed home...in the blizzard!! Friday John had to literally chisel away the ice and snow from the motorcycles to get them unlocked and off the back of the car! What an adventure!



Dallen's monster tumbleweed!






Jaxon jumping from "goblin" to "goblin" at Goblin Valley




This is where I almost peed my pants! Notice either side of the Jeep...






Here ya go, Shelley...Megan came with us of course. Here she is taking a break from the Jeep at lunch time! She was so patient and really didn't complain about anything!





Beautiful!


Tamzen, you are my hero!






Ethan's philosophy...when ya gotta go, ya gotta go!










Welcome Home!!

Happy Birthday, Jaxon!

I can't believe it has been 8 years since Jaxon was born! It seems like yesterday that he was this tiny little baby. Now, he is this big, active, reading, adding/subtracting/multiplying/dividing, sometimes sassy, always sweet boy! He was so excited for his 8th birthday. We had the family over on his actual birthday (March 1) to surprise him! (Does that sound familiar to my previous post? John is in to surprises lately)! Jaxon had no idea anyone was coming over or that we were celebrating his birthday that day in any way. His favorite food is pizza so I picked up some Papa Murphy's pizza on Saturday along with his Spiderman III cake. John took Jaxon out for a walk around the neighborhood while I quickly decorated the house and started cooking the pizza. We had my parents, John's mom, and my sister-in-law, Kayla, park up the street. When Jaxon came home he was very surprised and happy everyone came over to celebrate his birthday. The following Thursday we took the boys to ITZ. The boys had a blast and I was thankful for a decent salad bar!

For his birthday, Jaxon got a bigger bike, a new set of scriptures, and some money for his birthday. Papa even surprised him again by hiding more cash in the pages of the scriptures! He loved his pizza and cake. However, beware of blue frosting!! That stuff is potent! Just a little bit and EVERYTHING turns blue! All of our mouths were bright blue. The next day Ethan demonstrated evidence that his insides were also blue...you get the picture...

I love my kids birthdays! I am always a little sad they are a year older but I also love how excited and happy they are about a day devoted only to them! Each age brings new milestones and all new adventures! I am looking forward to see what age 8 brings! First and foremost, Jaxon gets baptized this month. March 28! He is really looking forward to it!

Jaxon's first week home. He was so tiny!!


I think he kind of looks like Megan here! He loved to be outside...still does!


Jaxon at the Air Force football game eating kettle corn when he was 4. He still LOVES to go to the games with papa. He still loves the kettle corn there. I think he eats the whole bag!


It just doesn't seem right. It seems like yesterday Jaxon was riding his mini bicycle now....


he has graduated to this, AND...


this!!! The older they get the bigger, faster, and more dangerous the toys. Oh, well...such is life with little boys!


The infamous blue frosting!


Always a ham! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAXON! We love you!

Playing Catch Up

I have been a blog procrastinator lately. I haven't found the time to sit down and post anything or ready any other blogs lately! Bummer!! Here's a snippet of the last month's occurrences in the Havenar household. Nothing too interesting but things that made me laugh anyway...


Ethan has been napping again lately. I guess he is really tuckered out lately. Maybe it's the really nice weather and he has been wearing himself out! Well, this is how I found him. He must have been really tuckered out from scaling the kitchen counter, lifting the giant bag of M&Ms, pouring them without spilling into his cup, and climbing down again. Whew! That's hard work!


John is really old! He turned 35 on February 12. John kind of planned his own surprise. A few days before his birthday he said, "I think it would be really fun for the boys to decorate the house, turn off the lights, and jump out to surprise me when I came home from work..." We always decorate the house for birthdays but I thought it was funny that he was all excited about a "surprise"! Of course, we did it. The boys did love it...all 4 of them! ha ha!





Ummmm, how many kids do we have? How many times have we (me and John) dressed a child? I asked John to put on Megan's pajamas...poor girl!


I was unloading groceries from the car and Ethan was playing with sidewalk chalk on the driveway. He runs in the house saying something about bugs buzzing his ears. He HATES bugs! I told him that bugs live outside and if he left them alone the bugs would not bother him. Well, he took matters into his own hands and brought out the fly swatter! That'll teach those bugs!!


Jaxon is such a good helper around dinner time. Megan was extremely tired and fussy. I was right in the middle of making dinner and so Jaxon offered to hold Megan. He was able to calm her down and he loved the fact that she fell asleep on him. He has actually offered to hold her every night while I make dinner in hopes that she will fall asleep on him again. Can you blame him? I love holding sweet, cuddly, sleeping babies!


YUCK!!! Megan started cereal last week. All the boys ate it without a problem. Not Megan! I put the first spoonful in (of course I had the camera ready) and I got pouty face, then this sweet screaming face! She HATED it!!! So funny!!

Paint Removal

Does anyone know how to get wall paint off of a refrigerator and table without totally ruining the appliance/table?

I had paint samples I was experimenting with. I put the little foam brush in a plastic bag so it wouldn't dry out (I'm too lazy to wash it and just use it later). Anyway, Ethan had a good time painting today!! The back of the couch (I got that out), the stamped concrete in the backyard, the sliding glass door, his toy car, his sweatshirt (a total loss), his cute little foot, and a nice Ethan height line ALL around the walls on our main level! GOOD TIMES!! I figured I could just paint over the walls but the fridge and the kitchen table...not so happy about! Help!!!

No more "Potato"

Potato. That's the word John's parents gave to "cancer" when John's dad had cancer. The word was scary and they hated talking about it so, they called it potato.

Well, my dad's labs all came back today...NO POTATO!!! His lymph nodes were negative. There are no signs of cancer. They said he was 97% cured (whatever that means). Of course, he will have his regular follow-ups but once he recovers from his recent surgery he will be good as new!

He sounded so relieved on the phone. I can only imagine how he and my mom feel. I also feel a tremendous amount of relief. Here's to many, many, many more years and years and years with my dad!!

Kenmore or GE?

We have not had the best of luck with major appliances. Last year our brand new Kenmore washer broke after only 4 years and now our brand new GE refrigerator broke after only 3 1/2 years! After these two experiences I think I have decided which appliance brand will be in my home from now on...you decide...

The Kenmore washer (1 year ago)...we had the Sears repair man come out for $65. He informed us that the transmission was dead and it would cost us nearly $400 to fix and we were basically out of luck, especially since we did not purchase the over priced extended warranty. (cough, cough). Well, since you can by a decent NEW washer for around $400 we paid our $65 and sent the repair man on his way. Well my cheap, Dave Ramsey loving, pay cash for EVERYTHING husband found a washer at a laundry mat who was replacing all of their washers. Yes, I have a commercial grade Maytag washer now. It only cost $35 and yes, I have to put $1.75 in it EVERY time I do a load of laundry!!!!! The thing is so loud our dog thinks it's the garage door opening and gets so excited that John might be home! He just stands at at the back door and waits. This is the washer I currently have until the dryer finally dies and I can get my much coveted front loaders!

The GE refrigerator (Today)... Sunday we noticed the refrigerator was making this annoying clicking sound. The water and ice maker also began to work only intermittently, almost like there was a short in something. John looked in the owners manual but it only said it might be a fuse but the fuse looked fine and was sodered to the mother board. So, we called GE and they sent their repair man out for $75. It turns out that the whole mother board on the back of the refrigerator needed to be replaced for $260 (parts and labor). We did not purchase the over priced extended warranty. The repair man enters in the refrigerator information into his computer and tells John that GE wants the broken mother board sent back to them. When the company requests this there is something off (maybe like the fact the mother board only lasted 3 1/2 years) and the customer pays NOTHING!! So, we have our fixed refrigerator, no extended warranty, no used pay-as-you-go appliance, and we are not out any cash!!!

I am very excited that I can now put all my food back into my fixed refrigerator (we have another fridge in the garage, thank goodness). I think it's pretty clear what appliances I will be purchasing in the future (NOT a Kenmore)!! I am kind of loving GE right now.