Nels

Mr Bump

Posted on July 16, 2010 by wadmanclan

Today we got to spend the day in the emergency room.

This morning when Nels was playing he decided it would be a good idea to take all of the die-cast cars that were in the toy bucket and dump them all over the floor and then climb into the bucket to sit. Unfortunately when he stood up again, he lost his balance. Since the bucket is almost as tall as his waist, there was no way to step back to regain his balance and so he fell backwards…onto the cars that were all over the floor…and hit his head. I was able to stop the bleeding, after several minutes, but the cut was deep enough it looked like it needed stitches.

With our insurance, I have to call to get an appointment/referral for any kind of urgent care, but as soon as they heard where the injury was, I was told I HAD to take him to the ER. So I loaded all the kids into the car and headed to the hospital.

It’s great being deemed a non-emergency and made to wait all day long.

It would be nice if the triage nurse (in cases established as non-emergency, like ours) had the ability to give us the option of getting a referral for an urgent care clinic or waiting for the ER. If I could have, we wouldn’t have needed to wait SEVEN HOURS (with two two-year-olds stuck in a stroller without lunch or a nap) just to see the doctor.

After our whole day was shot, and Nels got two staples, he will be okay.

He is definitely all boy and the most rambunctious of my kids, because it is always him. It doesn’t seem to have phased him though, he his as happy as ever!

Categories: ER, Nels, stitches | Leave a comment

Sweet Siblings

Posted on July 15, 2010 by wadmanclan

When we put the kids to bed, the little ones help sing to and tuck in the big ones. They love it and get angry if we don’t let them.

If only they always got along this well.

Categories: bedtime, Nels, Saedi | Leave a comment

Snitching in sentences

Posted on July 13, 2010 by wadmanclan

In an effort to keep the kids a little less rowdy and a little more safe, there is a flat rule of no running in the house. Unfortunately it is something that needs to be reminded constantly. Today Nels came to me very distraught and said as best he could, “Gavin…running…in…house!”

Yes, he was tattle-telling but it was the most complete sentence I think he’s used.

Categories: firsts, growing up, Nels, talking | Leave a comment

New Troop Transport

Posted on July 11, 2010 by wadmanclan

While I really like my Commander, we have outgrown it. Its just doesn’t function well for anything more than passengers when the back seats are up. A little while after buying Nate’s truck we started looking at the Sequoia, because this year they look just as good as the truck, and they have room for storage behind the third row. But we weren’t sold yet because of the gas mileage and price tag. So that we could see what other options there were on the market that had third row, we went and perused the local dealerships. We ended up finding a midsize SUV that had more room than the commander and was better on gas.

The kids got free balloons while we signed all the paperwork.

And I LOVE my new car! It’s pretty isn’t it?

Categories: Gavin, Nels, Solvei, truck | Leave a comment

Sultry Summer

Posted on July 10, 2010 by wadmanclan

Summer weather has arrived.
Today was the hottest day so far, it got up to 91! *gasp*

Don’t roll your eyes at me!

I was wearing a sweater last week because it was so cold.

No that doesn’t help my cause but it’s a drastic change.

ANYWAY, we took advantage of the “heat” and used a gift certificate for ice cream and got ice cream sandwiches from Coldstone.

Great way to beat the heat! Thanks

Categories: Gavin, Nels, Saedi, Solvei | Leave a comment

Happy Fourth!

Posted on July 5, 2010 by wadmanclan

Fourth of July isn’t a big holiday for us, but it is still fun with kids. I love the wonder and awe in their faces while watching fireworks or even just sparklers.

Here is a taste of our day.

Here are the details if you have the time to watch.

“Yesterday the greatest question was decided… and a greater question perhaps never was nor will be decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.” John Adams, Letter to his wife, Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776

Categories: Gavin, Independence Day, Nels, Saedi, Solvei | Leave a comment

Twin Trouble

Posted on July 4, 2010 by wadmanclan

The door to twin’s room sticks a little and they haven’t figured out how to turn the door handle well yet, so Solvei and Nels are kind of stuck in their room until I get them in the morning. Most of the time they entertain themselves pretty well. When they don’t and start to get into stuff they wake me, but sometimes when we have the fan going I don’t hear them as clearly. It’s been warm enough to need the fan this week.

Every morning the last few days I have woken up to this.

(They are crying because I said they had to stay in their room while I got the camera.) Everything out of the dresser drawers that they can reach, everything out of the changing table and box of diapers, and today Solvei has even decided to undress herself.

Stinkers!

Time to rearrange the furniture. There is a reason the dresser always ends up in the closet.

Categories: Nels, Solvei | Leave a comment

TODAY they get wet?!

Posted on June 27, 2010 by wadmanclan

Today was filled with more visiting/catching up for me but the kids only had to go along with part of it. I went to breakfast with Anna (very nice time) while the kids stayed with Grandma. When I got back they were just setting up her kiddie pools outside. Even after spending most of the afternoon yesterday in the pools at Grandma Kathy’s, they still wanted to swim at Grandma Lori’s today. I went out and watched them play and it was amazing, Nels AND Solvei wanted to get INTO the water. =P So all four kids had fun IN the pool today.

(They are all watching a train go past in this one)

Solvei and Nels were pretty fearless today. They loved getting into and out of all the different pools (they had 4 to choose from).

Gavin and Nels got their mo-hawks fixed up.

Solvei loved sitting down in one pool and flipping water all over herself.

I had planned on them only playing in the water for about an hour, but the were out for closer to two-and-a-half hours.

They were done just in time for the shade to disappear, and we had more visiting to get done before we go home. They didn’t mind too much though because they got to play when we visited Andrea’s family (always fun) in the evening.

Categories: Gavin, Nels, playing, Saedi, Solvei | Leave a comment

Party Time

Posted on June 26, 2010 by wadmanclan

Today started with breakfast at Jessie Jean’s with Laura. This trip has been pretty hectic but it’s nice to visit friends and catch up, even when it feels sort of rushed. Then we went and bought presents for the party today.

Today we celebrate Solvei and Nels’ birthday! Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Donnie are letting us have our celebration at their house so after we picked up the cake, we headed over there. Grandma had set up two kiddie pools and one big pool for all the kids to play in. Solvei and Nels were so excited to splash around in them but they REFUSED to get into them. (Solvei got in but wanted to get right back out again, and Nels wouldn’t even get in.) They loved splashing anyway from the side of the pool. Saedi and Gavin were little fish as long as their faces didn’t get wet (or would that make them ducks?).

Clay brought down some balls for the kids to play with in the water. Nels and Solvei liked to throw the ball into the pools at each other so it would splash each other. They did that for at least half an hour until the ball got so full of water it wouldn’t float anymore. Every time Solvei got splashed she made the same face, it was so cute. When Grandma Lori and Grandpa Larry came, Grandma stuck her feet into the pool while sitting in a lawn chair. Solvei thought that was so neat that she wanted to try it and only then would Nels put his feet into the water (while sitting between Grandma’s legs on the edge of the pool). They all had so much fun.

When everyone was done in the water we had dinner, the kids played some more…

We had cake and ice cream…

Hung out some more…

And then they opened presents. Nels was really into it at first but then the toys talked to him and made noise when they were opened so he wouldn’t have anything to do with the presents after that – Solvei had to finish opening everything for him.

After a very long day full of fun Solvei and Nels were asleep in the car before we got more than a block away. Happy Birthday little ones, love you!

Categories: birthdays, Gavin, Nels, playing, Saedi, Solvei | Leave a comment

Play-un in the Mount-uns

Posted on June 25, 2010 by wadmanclan

(in our best Utah accent)

Today we started our activities by having lunch with Vicki. I loved working with Vicki because it’s almost impossible to have a bad day around her; she’s always laughing. It was very nice to see her again. Thanks Vicki!

After lunch we went up to the mountains with Grandma Lori. Her church was having girls camp and she was supposed to be there, but since I was visiting she wasn’t. We went for her to make an appearance and to let the kids play “in the mountains”.

The kids spent a lot of time on the playground that is there. Solvei loved the swings, but Nels not so much.

Saedi and Gavin played with the merry-go-round for a long while (until Saedi’s “tummy was kinda yucky”). I love how Gavin thought it was neat when his cape was flying behind him because he was running so fast.

Solvei and Nels found the girls’ bucket stools and had to sit on every one.

Then we had dinner cooked on a campfire – hot dogs and s’mores.

Of course the kids loved it.

The kids played for a little while after we ate before we went home. Nels found a path that went from our fire pit to the playground by way of a tiny bridge over a little trickle of water so he had to go over it at least 50 times, making me nervous every time. Solvei loves to have her picture taken so I ended up with a bunch of her. (The first one shows her “where-did-it-go” expression.)

And of course there is an appearance with the hat.

While the big kids were back at the playground Grandma and I took the little kids to see the river. It was fascinating and rocks were thrown, as always happens when my children see water.