Bad news travels fast

Small town park statue

I forgot to mention in my post yesterday that I knew the fate of Todd's job before he did.

Chalk it up to small town living.

You see, Liz lost her job first thing Wednesday morning, before "Corporate" had made their announcement to everyone else.

Liz told Beth at the post office, who told Mary at the post office in the next town, who called Sarah, who called Vanessa, who called me to ask if I'd heard anything about our husbands' companies closing their doors.

I hadn't.

So, I called Todd, who was on a break between Parent Week meetings.

He hadn't heard anything like that.

So I called Vanessa back to tell her that Todd didn't know anything, but in the meantime, she'd talked to Millie who confirmed that indeed our husbands' were about to lose their jobs.

I texted "the latest" to Todd, and within an hour, he finally received the official word.

I was going to wait until Todd got home that night to tell our boys, but Kortney told them at school.

That's the way it goes in a small town.

Bleak

Yesterday was one of those days that you hope and pray will never happen to your family.

The company that Todd works for has a new CEO, who has decided to shut down the three therapeutic programs in our small community.

In a town of 500 people in the middle of nowhere, 200 will be losing their jobs.

The possibility of being able to sell our house is highly unlikely.

The outlook for many is bleak.

But, strangely enough, I feel okay about it. I don't know why this happened, and I don't know exactly how we'll get through it, but I know the Lord is watching out for us.  I can feel it so strongly it is almost tangible.  I've literally only cried a few tears, as I was telling our parents, but not even enough to mess up my mascara.

A couple years ago, both our Bishop and Stake President had an overwhelming feeling that we needed to "be prepared" as a community.  I remember Bishop saying he didn't know why, but he just couldn't shake the feeling.

And here we are.

I have absolutely no idea where to even begin or which path to follow, but I am calm and I feel peace.  There were a couple hours yesterday when I started to get angry, and I'm sure in the days to come we will experience a whole spectrum of emotions, but the anger passed quickly and I know deep down that it will all be okay.

Todd often says "When the Lord closes a door, he always opens a window...but that doesn't mean it won't be hell in the hallway".

It takes awhile to close a program like the one where he works, and luckily he can keep his job until August 2nd.  Some lost their job yesterday, and others will be laid off in May, June, and July.  We feel grateful to at least have some time for the dust to settle before we have to make any major decisions.

The spirit in our community is strong.  I have no doubt that people will rally together and weather the storm as a whole.  What we DO have is a bunch of people who know how to run residential and wilderness treatment facilities.  The possibility of keeping these programs going, on a private level, is actually a very real possibility...but it will take everyone working together.  No one person can do it alone.

It will be interesting, to say the least, to see where the rest of this year takes us.

Sunday afternoon fun

(The tree got a haircut!)

Seven (wipe a tear) months

My baby is officially closer to a one-year old than a newborn.  When did that happen?

At 7 months, Justin:

-Can sit up
-Rolls anywhere he wants to go (or army crawls)
-Is dangerously close to crawling on all four (I give him a week...tops)
-Wears 6-9 mos. clothes and size 3 diapers
-Weighs 17 lbs. 10 oz.
-Loves to play with his toys that we drug up from the basement this week
-Started sleeping 8-10 hours at night (and cut WAY back on naps during the day...I can't get a blasted thing done)
-Likes every kind of baby food he has tried...even the green beans!
-Waves good-bye

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

For those of you looking for fun idea's of things to do with your kids today, you've come to the wrong place.  Check out this fun idea from Amy at The Idea Room instead.  If I were going to do something for my kids today, this would be it.

Between Dillon and Todd's birthdays, and Caleb's coming up in a couple weeks, I'm all partied out.

(Really the part that I love is collecting all the idea's...I only carry them out for my kids' sake)

When I lived in Logan, my friends and I had a tradition of getting together on St. Patrick's Day for a pot-luck lunch.  We brought Irish food, or green food, or WIC beans.  It didn't matter.  It was just fun to get together (miss you, Toni!)

I keep wanting to do that here, and carry on the tradition, but I didn't think of it until this morning and I'm afraid it's too late.

Besides, today is MY day.  My favorite color is green, and I gave birth to tricky little red-headed boys. And it's snowy today, which has nothing to do with anything but it makes me want to curl up by the fire and read a book.

So that's what I'm going to do.

When I finish the book, I think I might sew.  Something fun--something for me.  Or maybe I'll take a nap.

I think I have a new favorite holiday.

Todd's therapy themed party

Several months ago, Dillon announced that he'd like a science party for his birthday.  Todd took the opportunity to mock me by requesting a "social science party" for his birthday.

I couldn't back down from a challenge, and it turned out to be a lot of fun to plan.

You know you're getting old when you blow out your candles and it makes this much smoke!

I made Todd's favorite "Fake Eclair Cake". 

He diagnosed the dessert as "Delusional Subtype Grandiose" 

since it thinks it's an eclair, when it's really only graham crackers, and pudding.

Nate and Erin came over tonight and we got some pictures of the babies.  

Justin and Billy are only 4 months apart, and will be in the same grade in school.

I used a t-shirt transfer to put the word "psychobabble" on Justin's onesie. 

We did three "experiential activities" with the kids:

"Shrink"y Dinks

Find Your Marbles 

(hot/cold game with a bag of marbles)

and Ink Blot Painting.

I wanted to make angel/devil puppets to hold over our shoulders and be our conscience (id/ego) 

but that would have put us over the 50 minute session.

I decorated with Todd's Freud collection (tickle me Freud, Freud bobble-head, and Freud action figure).

The favor bags had "tissues for your issues", "Freudian slips" (post-it notes), and Lifesavers. I tied them up with a jingle bell, and a note that said "Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?"

I made this poster for Todd to hang in his office:

We had cupcakes in addition to the Fake Eclair Cake. 

I didn't get a picture, but I stuck the following signs on toothpicks for cupcake toppers:

From left to right/ top to bottom:

"I can help you find your marbles"

"[reversed] Psychology"

"I'm ashamed of what I did for a Klondike bar"

"Proud therapist of the ObamaNation"

"Marriage and Family Therapists do it on the couch"  (we didn't use this one since it's a bit inappropriate--Char, there's a similar saying for Physical Therapists...)

"Your dysfunction pays my bills"

"Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?"

"Satisfaction guaranteed or your mania back"

"How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb?  One, but it has to want to change."

"You think YOU have problems...I have 100 people's problems!"

Ink blot picture

"The doctor is 'IN'"

"If you're passive aggressive and you know it, make other people feel guilty until they clap their hands"

smile ball

The comic has a bunch of refried beans sitting in a therapy support group.  One bean is saying, "Once just wasn't enough for me...".

WWTD?

Today is Todd's 37th birthday.  We dropped Dillon off with my cousin Erin this morning, and drove "over the mountain" to look at saddlebags.

Yes, I said saddlebags, and I don't mean the kind for a Harley.   Unfortunately it's not saddlebag season (who knew?) so we had to order online when we got home.

We had a great time, though, laughing and singing along to Johnny Cash:

Todd:  "Daddy sang bass"
Me:  "Mama sang tenor..."

You probably had to be there.

(but I'm glad you weren't, or Todd wouldn't have been singing...and he has a really great voice)


Since it's his birthday, I'll take a minute to embarrass him.

A few months ago, one of his students graduated from the residential treatment center where Todd works as a therapist.  The girl's father was speaking at the graduation.  In his speech, he was debating whether or not to get an iPhone.   He said that he was going to stop at the Apple store on his way back to the airport, and if they had an app called "What Would Todd Do?" then he was SOLD.

It was a well-deserved compliment, in my opinion. If I had an iPhone, I would want that app too.

We're having his party tomorrow, when Nate and Erin can join us for cake.  I think it will be worth tuning in for the details :o)

I love you, Todd.  Thank you for you.  I had a great time singing Johnny Cash with you today.  Happy 37th!

The story of a tree

Once upon a time, my bonsai loving husband bought a cute ponytail palm.

The curliness of her branches made me smile.

After awhile, the leaves lost their curl, and the once cute tree

would growl at me every time I washed the dishes.

At one point I took matters into my own hands, and gave her a perm.

It worked--but only for a few days.

At Christmastime, we tried a new "do" with tinsel.

She's gotten old now, and her leaves are turning brittle.

A few weeks ago, I added a new accessory:

If you twist my arm...I might just give her away.

Dillon's Mario Party

When we moved here he was 17 mos. old.

Now he can read.

He grew too fast.

Dillon chose a Dinosaur party for his birthday this year, 

and then two weeks ago he changed his mind and asked for a Mario party.  

I bought yellow wrapping paper and turned his presents into "mystery boxes".

Since I wrapped all the presents from the grandparents, everything matched ;o)

I made a stencil and used powdered sugar to do the same thing to our French toast this morning.

I sent the boys on a treasure hunt  to rescue the princess (details in the following post).

I looked everywhere for brown balloons to make goomba's, but had to settle for orange.

The boys had to jump on the "guys" just like in the video game.

The cupcakes are supposed to be 1-up mushrooms.

I printed out Mario labels for the Kool-aid bottles, and painted polka dots on hard boiled "Yoshi" eggs.

Dillon chose ravioli for dinner.  He would eat ravioli every day if we let him.

Oh, how I love this boy.

Sometimes he signs his name, "dilrob"  (short for Dillon Robert).

When I drop him off at kindergarten every day, he turns around and signs "I love you" with his hand.

Sunshine comes out of his eyes.

He is the best big brother EVER.  

A couple weeks ago we moved the baby into his crib in Dillon's room.  After a few nights, we noticed that Dillon was sleeping with three pillows under his head, so that he was almost sitting up to sleep.  I figured it was a "boy thing" and just went into his room before I went to bed every night to remove the extra pillows.  Todd finally asked him why he was using so many pillows, and he replied:

"So Justin could see me from his crib and not cry." 

Mario Bros. Scavenger Hunt

I searched the internet for a pre-made Mario scavenger hunt but didn't have any luck.  Lots of sites suggested it, but no one posted it.  

So...I'm posting the one we did in the hopes that it will help someone else.  In desperation yesterday afternoon, I went to the site that was advertising Super Mario Bros. for the wii, and copied the descriptions for each world/level.  It all just came together from there.  

I wanted it to be fun, without a lot of clean-up...no way was I setting up an entire obstacle course in my house!  The boys collected a chocolate gold coin with every clue.

World 1

Bright sunny skies and mushroom hills greet you in this first region of the mushroom kingdom.  

Jump on the goomba's to find your next clue.

(Goomba's are the little brown guys. I couldn't find brown balloons and settled for orange)

World 2
The scorching desert is riddled with sand geysers and massive quicksand traps.  Can you keep cool long enough to make it to the castle?
There is a turtle sinking in quicksand in the oven...no wait! It's a penguin!

(I put cornmeal in a small Pyrex bowl in a barely warm oven. The next clue and a picture of the penguin suit were inside)

World 3
You won't be able to chill out too much in this wintry wonderland! Step lightly through icicle-ridden caves and use the penguin suit to slide down snowy hills (stairs) to find an ice flower in the freezer!

(I put the clue and the ice flower picture in a baby food jar, then put the jar in a ziplock container of water with the lid, and froze it.  They had to break the ice with a hammer)

World 4
You'll be dying for a swim once you reach this tropical island paradise, but watch out for the slippery and prickly creatures of the deep!  Use your ice flower power to throw ice cubes at the bad guys and find your next clue.  Don't forget to collect your star!

(I had a blue tub coloring tablet--not food coloring! The alphabet letters were the bad guys, and the clue was floating inside a plastic teapot.  On the edge of the tub, there was a Mario star and some starburst candy.  I told the boys that as long as they were chewing the starburst candy, they would be invincible while finding their next clue)

World 5
Piranha plants and poisonous swamps make a stroll through this forest more than a little treacherous!  Use a flashlight and go out to the garden to find your next clue.

(The star power wasn't enough for Dillon--he was too scared to go outside in the dark, so Caleb did this part for him.  The clue and gold coin were taped to a wooden block with a POW on it.)

World 6
Mountains!  You'll become a pro at scaling walls, and exploring caves by the time you climb to this peak.  Use your POW block to destroy the castle at the top of Mom and Dad's closet.  Collect your next clue, and a fire flower while you're there.

(Caleb knocked down the block castle, and collected fireball candy to throw at Bowser).

Last clue:
Bowser has Princess Peach in his lair.  Hit him with your fireballs to save the princess and collect your treat!

I taped Bowser (standing up) in a box with Princess Peach in the back.  The boys threw their fireballs at him until he was laying down, and collected their prize.

Not a great picture, but it's all I've got.  The prize was Mario fruit snacks that I found at Target last week.

The rest of the day...

After that last post, my day continued downhill.

Our internet went out (for a day and a half) and I discovered I can't even cook dinner without google by my side!  I didn't miss e-mail or blogs, but it drove me crazy when I got my Bountiful basket, and couldn't look up recipes for mangoes, or learn how to open a coconut.

I spent the evening researching for Dillon's "Mario birthday party" by actually playing Mario bros. on the wii, instead of looking things up online.  My boys stood by my side yelling things like, "JUMP MOM!" or "We already told you how to do that!" and "Hurry up! Do you realize you're being timed?"

When I felt I had gained sufficient knowledge of Mario and his friends (and after I saved Toad and conquered level 1), I sent the kids to bed just in time for Dillon to throw up.

He made it to the toilet...sort of.  I think I'm going to have to take the toilet seat apart to clean in all the crevices.

Dillon slept fine through the night, but Caleb woke me up at 3 AM gasping for air.  He could barely breathe. He coughed (barked) and I knew immediately that it was croup (isn't he too old for that?).  I bundled him up and took him outside into the cold air while I called the on-call doctor.  We have a nebulizer so the doctor had me give him a breathing treatment at home, and while I was searching through the medicine cabinet I found one last steroid pouch...hallelujah!...so, we didn't have to go to the clinic in the middle of the night.

In the morning, Dillon threw up again, and I took Caleb in to the doctor to get an oral steroid to keep his trachea from swelling closed again.

We spent the rest of the weekend napping and taking it easy.

Honestly, it was probably the best thing that could've happened.  It's sad that it takes sickness to slow us down sometimes.

I was able to find my kitchen countertops, and when our internet came back on, Todd and I watched old episodes of The Cosby Show while we folded Mt. St. Laundry.

Can I just comment on The Cosby Show?  It is hilarious.  And clean.  It was so refreshing. Our kids were already in bed, but that is one show that I could have playing in my house, and not worry about what my kids might see or hear when they walk through. I can't even think of a current show that I can say that about.

Now I've got to get moving.  Today is Dillon's birthday, and I've got a party to throw.  More pics later...