Life is busy!

Ok, I am going to try to catch up for the last month. 

The kids are now out of school for the summer!  I'm not sure who was more excited about it.  Them or me.  It's so nice to have some freedom and spend more time with them.  It definitely makes life busy all day long.  But, what else would I do?  Jack is just finishing up t-ball.  Hailey and Conrad played on the same Pee Wee team and their last game is tomorrow.  We've had games Monday through Thursday all month.

Bo had his tonsils removed and deviated septum repaired on June 3.  A great big thanks to Earle and my parents for helping out with kids.  We had to be to the hospital at 9 for his surgery.  But, they had some complications in the surgery before him so we had to wait until almost 2 to start.  It was a very long day we made it home around 6.  We also had Caleb at the hospital with us so that made it longer.  But, he made it through with the first few days being very rough.  He said it was definitely worth it though.  I agree.  He can actually breath and even breath through his nose while he's sleeping.  It will take about another month for all of the swelling to go down.  We can't wait to see how much better he'll feel then.

Of course the kids couldn't leave school without a final sickness.  They brought home a horrible cold.  The younger kids coughed for 3 weeks and I am still trying to get all the way over it.  It is nice to be on the tail end.  I've decided with 5 kids it's no fun to get sick.  It takes forever to get over it.  And everyone thinks your sick all the time.  We haven't had a lot of illnesses, but it's really hard to keep everyone isolated from a cough!  UGH!!

We also finished up the basement!!! I cannot explain the anticipation and excitement of this project being finished.  All seven of us were in 3 rooms.  Hailey being the oldest and the only girl had her own.  Now with all of the kids spread out and Caleb out of our room bedtime is a breeze.  It's so nice to have more room for the kids to play in the house too.

Here are some pics.  They are horrible.  We got a new camera and it doesn't take very clear pictures.  It wasn't perfectly clean.  But, it's a family room.  It's not suppose to be perfect, right?

Bottom of the stairs view:

Hailey's room

Conrad and Jackson's room:

Guest room:

In the midst of all that Jack turned 5 and we had Father's day!!!  We had Grandpa and Grandma over for his birthday a couple of days before (on Father's Day) .  We were going to go to the warehouse and play games on his birthday, but Jack was sick on his with a fever.  So, we ended up going a few days later.  He still had a great time opening his presents.  I forgot to take an after picture though.  Whoops.

Jackson loves:
Riding his bike
Watching super hero shows
Fishing with Dad
Now that t-ball is over, he likes that too. :)
The color orange
Anything with chicken
Skylanders video game
Candy
Driving his cars

We love:
His smile
His sense of humor
The way he still likes to cuddle
The way he talks and loves on his baby brother
The sweet little boy he's grown in to
Watching him play

We made breakfast in bed, crepes with chocolate pudding, strawberries, and whipped cream for Father's Day.  The kids wrote notes to Bo for his birthday.  They were really cute.  I'll see if I can take pictures of them to post.  It's fun to see the world in the view of a child.

Warren Shelton

My Grandpa, Warren Newton Shelton passed away on April 24, 2013 at the age of 90.  You will be missed Grandpa!

These kinds of posts are hard...I want to write it of course to have for my history.  And I want to get it right so I can remember my Grandpa for the man he was.  But, it's overwhelming because I want to get it right and I'm just not an eloquent writer.

The first thing I think of when I think of Grandpa are of course his delicious rolls and cinnamon rolls.  Grandpa was an amazing cook.  As far as I know he didn't pick up cooking until he retired, but he truly had a talent for it.  He always had delicious soups, salads, and desserts.  He made great potato salad and broccoli cauliflower salad.  A couple of my favorites.  And anyone who's had his puff cake loved that desert too.

Grandpa was very supportive.  Him and Grandma were always the important occasions in our lives.  They were always at our dance and piano recitals.  They even came to our Jazz basketball games.  They were at graduations and weddings.  It was always fun to have them there. 

My favorite memories were spending a couple of days at Grandpa and Grandma's house every summer.  Grandpa would always make us breakfast.  We had the choice of pancakes from scratch or French toast from homemade bread.  I LOVED the French toast.  One of my favorite memories of a visit was Grandpa on roller blades.  I think he was about 70 and he took Barry and I roller blading at his church parking lot.  That's just how Grandpa was.  Full of energy and life.

Grandpa had the funniest sense of humor.  Once of my earliest memories was when he got false teeth.  Grandpa would pop them out and smile or laugh and Grandma would say, "WARREN!"  He made me laugh up til the end.  He always had something funny to say.  The last couple of years Grandpa had a hard time walking.  His balance was horrible.  Every time we went to his house and he got up to walk he'd say, "I walk like I pooped my pants."  I don't know why but that one has stuck and it's so funny.  I think it's because I'm sure it had to be very frustrating to Grandpa to not be able to walk well, but he was still able to joke about it.  Grandpa never complained.  I'd always ask how he was doing and he'd say, "Oh, pretty good."

Our kids loved going to Grandpa's house.  I'm so grateful at least Hailey and Conrad will be able to remember him.  They loved him and miss him.  I think their best memory of Grandpa was his bowl of treats.  Everytime we went to visit, he made sure that they had at least five fun size candy bars.  And he'd make sure they had one for the road.  Who wouldn't love that? :)

The last time I saw Grandpa out of bed was the day after Caleb was born.  He surprised me and came to the hospital to see him.  This was a great tender mercy of the Lord because two days later he was in bed and stayed there until he passed.  Although he lived everyday after that to take a few steps and did almost up until the day he died, I never saw him out of bed again.  I'm grateful I will always have that memory of him there at the hospital showing his support

.

Grandpa was kind, caring, funny and loving.  He had a great smile.  I love you Grandpa and can't wait to see you and Grandma again someday.


Obituary:

Warren Newton “Newt” Shelton, 90, of Osgood, Idaho, passed away April 24, 2013 at his home surrounded by his family. He was under the care of Hospice of Eastern Idaho.

Warren was born March 23, 1923 in Milo, Idaho, to Warren Oscar Shelton and Julia Belle Riley Shelton. His Dad worked for the railroad so he lived in many areas during his early years. In 1933, they settled in the Osgood area where he remained for the rest of his life. He attended Osgood Elementary and graduated from Ammon High School. Warren served as a 1st Sergeant in the Army during World War II and fought in the Pacific Theater. After returning from the war, Warren farmed in the Osgood area for several years.

Warren married Lorna Joyce Taysom on January 20, 1951 in Evanston, Wyoming. The marriage was solemnized April 26, 1969 in the Idaho falls LDS Temple. Lorna passed away July 19, 2004.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He had a keen sense of humor and loved a good joke. He enjoyed baseball, hunting, and fishing. After retirement, he enjoyed cooking and was well known in Osgood for his cinnamon rolls and clam chowder.

Warren is survived by
Daughter, Joyce (Robert) Meacham of Harrisburg, PA;
Daughter, Patricia (Tim) Christensen of Shelley, ID;
Daughter, Debby Shelton of Black Diamond, WA;
Son, Dee (Laurie) Shelton of Idaho Falls, ID;
Son, Brian (Kristen) Shelton of Auburn, WA;
13 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren;
Brother, Lee Shelton of Idaho Falls, ID.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and sisters Evelyn and Geraldine Shelton.


Funeral Services will be held Wednesday May 1, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at the Idaho Falls LDS Osgood Ward, 7940 North 35th West, with Bishop Brad Reed officiating. The family will meet with friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 North Ridge, and from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Military Rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Team and the Idaho Honor Guard. Burial will be in the Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery.

Caleb's Special Day!

 

Last Sunday, April 14, 2013 Caleb was blessed by Bo.  He did a great job.  Caleb cried through the entire thing.  He kinda likes crying and does it quite a bit (super fun).  He's not super colicky like Jackson was.  I can comfort him and get him to stop.  But he wants to be held 24/7.  Jackson on the other hand cried all the time and I couldn't do anything to get him to stop.  So, that's better, but I just hope he grows out of it soon.

 

I don't remember everything from the blessing, but I do remember he was blessed to discern good from bad.  And to learn and grow in the gospel.  Two very important qualities he will need as he grows. 

 

Here are some pics of those who were able to come.  A big thank you to those who were able to make it.  We know it isn't always convenient to make the drive and for my parents who are taking care of Grandpa Shelton it isn't easy leaving him either. But, it was nice to have all of you there.

(thanks Myles for taking our pictures!)

Dad, Caleb and Mom

Grandma Porter and Caleb

Grandpa and Grandma Christensen

 Jackson, Brayden, A super excited sister (not sure what her deal was she was frowning in all her pictures), Caleb and Conrad

 All of the cousins who came (Braxton, Abbey, Hailey, Caleb, Conrad, Brayden, Eriksen, Brystal

 Jackson who has really become attached to his brother.  It's so cute to watch him bond with him.  I thought this picture was cute!

 

Caleb went to the Dr. for his 2 month check and he was 12 lbs 5 oz and 25 inches long.  Just for my record.

And Now He's Seven...

On April 3rd Conrad turned 7.  As usual I was very anxious to make everything perfect for his birthday.  I had to run to Idaho Falls and get everything the night before because it has been so crazy I didn't have time to get anything ready beforehand.  I got home at 10:30 and had to frost the cake and Bo wrapped the presents so Conrad could wake up to presents and cake on his birthday. 

Bo came home at 4 and we celebrated with opening presents and Sloppy Joe's for dinner. 
I love watching kids open presents.

He really wanted to have his party at Grandpa's house but Hailey was still recovering from having her tonsils removed.  So my Mom came and picked up Conrad to spend some time with him and take him out to my Grandpa's.  (Grandpa doesn't have much longer and one of my parents is out there almost 24/7.  Conrad is having a hard time with Grandpa not going to be here.)  I followed them out with Jackson and Brayden.  We spent some time with Grandpa, my Dad, and Uncle Dee.  We came back home and had cake and ice cream.  Not the usual birthday, but he still had fun.

At 7 Conrad loves:

Fishing (he went with Bo the day before his birthday and couldn't wait to go)
Baseball
Riding his bike
The colors green, blue, red (in that order)
Books about animals
Legos
Recess
His brothers and sister (especially his new brother)
Nerds and Mambas
The nickname Con

At 7 We love:

How responsible he is
How he is always making his brothers and sister laugh
How helpful he is
How he loves going on dates and never stops talking
How observant he is
How he remembers everything even from when he was really little
How he's a good listener
How he loves all the same hobbies Bo does (cute)

Happy Birthday!!!  We love you Con!!!

Hailey's Tonsillectomy

Hailey has always been pretty healthy.  Once she started school she began to catch things here and there.  She made it to age 7 before she even had an antibiotic and last November she got strep throat for the first time.  Then, she got it four more times in four months.  She has missed over twenty days of school so we decided to have her tonsils removed.

Bright and early Monday morning we drove up to ERIMC for her tonsillectomy.  We got there at 6:15 am and her surgery was finished and we talked to the Dr. at 8:20.  She was in recovery until about 9:10 am.  When the nurses brought her in to her room she looked horrible.  The poor girl.  She was so sick and pale.  She still had oxygen on.

They were able to get her feeling more comfortable, but she couldn't keep her oxygen up so we ended up staying until 12:30.  But, I was grateful because I wasn't ready to take her home she looked so bad and was super drugged.  But, she took a short nap and poof, she was back.  It was weird.

She had a rough day throwing up on the way home and a couple of other times.  But Tuesday she did great.  Today has been a bit more rough, but she's not in a whole lot of pain, so that's nice. 

I can't wait to see how she does after this is all over because she's had such a rough winter.  She just hasn't been herself. 

Here's some pics

Oh, and stay tuned...Bo is doing the same thing but having his deviated septum done too!


Before...

After...