Practice Walking

I took Seth and Violet to the Shark Reef today so that Seth could get some good practice walking. He is now permitted to walk on his own and resume normal activities as he is comfortable. He will crawl on both legs with no pain. When he walks he says his foot hurts. I'm assuming that is because he hasn't used it in 7weeks. He is walking with both legs using the walker and getting better each day. But he still puts weight on the walker when he's on his left leg. I'm going to give it a few days before I call his doctor and see if this could be normal or if he might need physical therapy. I am hoping and praying he improves on his own and SOON. He did seem to improve today with all that walking. Here are pictures from the Shark Reef.











Seth bought a 3 dollar fossil shark tooth to take home. Then on the drive home he lost one of his own front teeth. We compared how much bigger and sharper the shark tooth is.

P.S. We've been here a few times but this was the first time we took a moment and checked out the Mandalay Bay Hotel pool. It looks so fun! They have a lazy river and a wave pool. Wow! I didn't know they have a wave pool. I think it would be a fun vacation for the kids to spend one night in the hotel and then spend the whole next day swimming. I have big plans for traveling with the kids when they are older, but for now I'm all about keeping it simple and low stress. They're still so little. This would be so fun, but maybe Mandalay Bay is super expensive. I'll have to check it out.

Things to Note:

We took the kids to a train show featuring mini trains powered with steam. Seth said, "You can see them chug a chooin."

Kyle and Violet were in the TV room. Kyle told Violet that I was in the kitchen and that Violet could go help Mom cook dinner. Violet said okay and then as she was leaving she said, "So you can lock the door and watch TV, Daddy?" Kyle didn't have her fooled. Sidenote: Kyle rarely sits down and watches TV in the evening like that.

Seth was in the hospital trying to use the walker for the first time. He walked around the room and we were all exclaiming how wonderful he was. Then he took BOTH hands off the walker balancing on one leg as if to say, look at this! I said that was great but KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WALKER.

In primary the Primary President was talking about President Monson. Jonah's hand shot up. He said he saw President Monson at church today. Really it was President Johnston. He is a former member of a stake presidency and he just so happened to be visiting our ward for a baby blessing. Kyle and I sat behind him and Jonah heard us mention his name.

the painted veil

We watched this movie from nexflix with zero expectation. We knew nothing about it. Are you kiddding me??? How did I not know about this wonderful flick? Sooooo good. I rarely watch movies more than once, because I'd rather watch a new one. But I've been itching to see this again. We loved the salad eating scene. Okay, I won't say anything more. Loved it! I turned my blog comments off once upon a time and CANNOT get them back on. If anyone knows of other movies that may have passed me by, let me know!

1st day of school

Seth started 2nd grade. He fractured his femur after falling off his bike a few weeks ago. He had surgery and a steel rod nailed to his bone to keep it straight. Hence no cast. I love my Mr. Seth, and I'm glad he's doing better and not hurting anymore. He gets around on this walker which made it extra hard to send him off to school. But he's doing great! So far it's been an easier adjustment than 1st grade.


Jonah started kindergarten. He was so unbelievably excited because he's been watching seth do the school thing. Jonah is going from no preschool straight to full-day montessori kindergarten. He came out the first day and said "I love school!" He said that three more times that evening.

What a relief. So far they both enjoy school this year and have good teachers. I am a really happy mom!

just the girls at home

Violet wanted a picture in front of the house like the boys. So far, it's fun hanging out with Violet. Kyle thinks it's weird to see just Violet and I around the house during the day. He says we're good at being sweet and seducing him to get what we want. It's true, Violet is good. She also scolded him a few times yesterday..I don't do that, do I? I hope Kyle can handle all this girl power. Turns out he's looking for office space, but I'm trying to convince him not to. I will miss popping into the home office to say Hi, to complain, to tell him something cute the kids just did, or to plant a big kiss on his handsome lips. No wonder he's looking for an office! How does he get any work done!


This is her new big girl bed. It's blurry because she's testing it out with lots of jumping. She was so cute about the whole thing. I didn't get a bed frame yet because I want to find a cute wood one. Let's not mention that the boys still have no bed frames and they don't even have a box spring - just a mattress on the floor covered with some old sheets from our closet. The humidifier ruined her border that overlays the pink paint, so I'll have to think of something new to do.

drive so fast

Kyle asked Jonah where he wants to go on his mission. Jonah said Germany so he can drive on the autobon.

jonah's complaints

We are over at cousin Ethan's house playing (after Brooklyn's blessing). Kyle tells Jonah that it's time to go home. Jonah wails out, "But why does Ethan get to stay."

Jonah says, "Mom, can I have a juice box?" I say, "yes." Before I can finish the "s" on "yes", Jonah wails out, "Buuuut Violet haaaassss onnnne." Hmmm. Either Jonah complains WAY TOO MUCH or I say NO way too much. Probably a bit of both is true.

We've been talking a lot lately about being grateful and expressing it. The boys have been practicing and Jonah is learning. He thanks me for stuff all the time when I least expect it. But I can't say, that I don't still hear the occasional Jonah wail....hey that's what got him into the whale.

A little goat

Mrs. Asay is looking at the book I put together for her since she is retiring. It was so fun to do this project and to see her feel some reward for being a good teacher for so many years.


Seth was a goat in a small class play. He was so Seth in his little part. Everytime I see those paper goat ears laying around the house, I smile to myself.

babies

Eric (my older brother) and Melissa have a new baby boy, Wade. Isn't Eric a HANDSOME CUTIE? And Wade is too. We're looking forward to going to California to see them in September.

My parents picked Eric up from a hospital in Mexico over 30 years ago. Maybe I'll adopt a little hispanic boy or girl in a few years! As I've grown up, I realize how awesome my parents are. They've done so many cool things in their lifetime and they don't live within any prescribed box. Collectively, they have lived in France, Germany, Mexico, and Taiwan. My mom has just been called on a service mission to work at the church unemployment center. Unfortunately, I'm sure that place is swamped right now. She'll be working 20 hours a week there and then substitute teaching on her off days. My Dad still travels the world. He's over marketing for a small airline that does grand canyon tours (VisionHolidays).


Josh and Maya (Kyle's sister) had their first girl, Brooklyn. She is beautiful! We enjoyed her blessing last Sunday in their ward.

Seth's Birthday

Seth turned 7 on Sunday! For his party, he invited two friends (Julian Romano and Alex Neil) over for cake and to see Ice Age 3 (in 3D) in the theater. They boys chanted "Ice age 3 in 3D, Ice Age 3 in 3D" as we were going into the theater. They ate popcorn, wore their big 3D glasses and loved the movie. It was full of dinosaurs, lava, and plenty of good boy material.


We got the Wii for Seth's birthday!


We have been playing it way too much ever since!

Swimming

We have been swimming so much this summer! I love being outside with the kids, the easy entertainment, and wearing them out day after day. I'm not going to edit much here - I want ALL these pictures in my blog record!


Jonah, Seth, and Violet


Kyle and violet


Violet is sweet on the chair.


Digging a hole to bury Jonah.


Jonah gets in.


Jonah is buried.


Violet loves the sandy bottom.



Jonah can swim!


Jonah plays in the sand.


Me and Violet.


Violet and Jonah




Violet gets lots of Daddy time.


Violet on Dad's back again.


Mr. Seth is a good swimmer!

Pizza and Repentance

We went to small pizza parlor one night for dinner and somehow started talking about baptism while we ate. I asked Seth and Jonah why we are baptized. They focused on having our sins washed away. I think it is fascinating, even for a young child, to think about sins being washed away. Children know they make mistakes and make wrong choices sometimes. Then the boys asked if we can be baptized again. Meaning later when they've chalked up a few more sins. I told them they don't need to because they can repent. I reassured them that everyone makes mistakes. We just try our best and repent.

Jonah asked, "How?" I started to talk about praying to Heavenly Father and saying sorry, etc. He stopped me and said again, "How?" So then I talked about the Atonement and how Jesus Christ suffered for our sins and He can take our sins away so we are clean again. Jonah said, "But Mom, HOW does it WORK? How does it Wooooork?" I had to stop and think. What is this kid asking? Kyle just looked at me and said, "you're doing great." I think what Jonah wanted to know was, how does the atonement literally transfer over into my body and soul and clean my sin away? I don't have an answer to his question other than to agree that, yes, repentance and the atonement are REAL. There is literally something that happens just like at baptism. I think baptism is such a visual thing and so Jonah could understand how that could wash away sin. He figures there must be something similar - real and physical every time we repent. And I think there is!

Seth in 1st Grade

Seth is almost a second grader. He has year round school this year so we're still pushing forward until August. His teacher, Mrs. Asay, is retiring this year. I am putting together a special book for her with messages from other teachers, principals, parents, students, and family. It has been amazing to read the messages. She has had an impact on many lives.



Today was cowboy day in Seth's class. He shared a picture of his Great Grandpa Lewis who is a real cowboy in Cowley Wyoming. When we arrived to school before the gates opened (a first, I'm sure) Seth wanted to practice showing his picture. He talked about how Grandpa Lewis rides horses, has sheep, and how Seth found a sheep bone on the farm. Also, yesterday when I gave Seth the picture and explained to him what a great grandpa is (Grandpa Lewis' Dad) Seth asked, "Is he my Step-Dad?" Kyle and I are both fortunate enough to have parents who are still married, so I guess Seth heard about the step-dad thing at school.

temple time

Mark received his call to the Montana, Billings mission. Yay! It was so wonderful to go to the temple with him and almost the whole Lewis family (just Michael is left)! What a good looking family. It was an unforgettable day. I think everything is different in the temple. Better. More love. More prayer. More thoughts of Heavenly Father's plan of happiness. A reminder that this kind of joy and happiness with family is far better than any worldly pleasure.

follow-up

As a follow up on "the soloist" I have to add that I don't have any idea what would be the best thing for those who suffer with severe mental illness like my brother does. I DO understand why they don't stay on medication (side effects). And I don't know that force is the best thing! Force is definitely awful, yet it is miraculous to see them come out of psychosis. Ideally, once a patient is out of psychosis they could be placed somewhere more long term - not like the mental hospitals of the past and emphasis on long term not FOREVER. I'm thinking more of a group home environment where they have more freedom to leave and go but they are required to have someone watch them take meds. Then if the meds are causing problems they have someone to talk to and see a doctor and make changes. Over and over until it's something they can live with. I saw something like this on that PBS special I mentioned, and I loved it. Obviously money is a huge problem. This genetic illness is very likely passed on in my genetic code, and so I can't help but think, What would I want for my own child, or grandchild? I'm NOT planning on dealing with this as a parent, but it has crossed my mind. On the bright side, there are more and more success stories with today's medications. I think seeing a really good doctor right away would be essential to that success. Partly because over time, schizophrenia can cause the mind to deteriorate (for example cognition).

the soloist

Kyle and I saw "The Soloist" in theaters last weekend. I wasn't sure what to expect. I have a brother with severe mental illness (schizo-affective bipolar. I'm sure some doctors would give him a full schizophrenia diagnosis...but I'd like to think not). So anyway, a part of me was intrigued with this movie and the possibility of the public being educated about mental illness. That's a good thing. And a part of me thought maybe I could steal a good cathartic cry from this movie. Yes, it has been more than painful to see my brother, Paul, suffer and my parents likewise. Paul is very much like the man in the movie. He was a very successful young man. Paul served a mission for our church and held the position of Assistant to the President (AP). Which I only say to show a specific instance which clearly illustrates that he has not been crazy his whole life. He was capable, funny, and talented. He is still a very talented artist and his art is the one thing that I believe has kept him alive. He has a very, very hard life. On his art blog there is a depiction of himself titled, "abnormal self." So sad. His art is amazing..some say there is a fine line between genius and crazy. That's paul. For some reason, I can't get a link in right here to his blog, but his link is on my sidebar under family links.

The movie could have been more compelling, but I enjoyed it because of my personal interest in mental illness. I thought it was a very accurate depiction of mental illness. My parents have said many times that they worry Paul will be homeless someday. He needs a place where he is watched carefully (legally bound) and given meds and other medical care for a long term of time. Then with long term success with meds and with sure signs of stability, Paul (and others) could venture out on their own and live their "free" life. These places just don't exist because of the focus on freedom and rights. I heard a wise person say on a recent PBS special that yes, these individuals are "free" to roam the streets. But are they really experiencing freedom when they have a delusional mind (not on meds). In any case, it's very discouraging, just like the movie portrays. There's not much you can do with a person who refuses medication and is paranoid of everything. I thought the scene where his mom is trying to care for him and feed him "poisoned" soup was well done.

I thought it was sad to see so much of the homeless: the lowliest of people. I realize there are homeless individuals who have chosen that life and are responsible for themselves. But I think there are MANY who are weak and helpless like the movie depicted. Two nights ago I read this scripture in the Book of Mormon,

1 Nephi 13: 42
And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.

I have always thought that "the last shall be first" could be applied to the homeless and all the lowliest of people. They are God's children. They have the same potential as the most successful person on earth. They will be healed. They can be EXALTED! I just LOVE that.

kiddie quips

Jonah came to me and asked if he could play a batman game that he saw on a commercial on TV. I said, "No, we're not going to buy that." So later that day I told him he could go upstairs and play computer games. Seth and Jonah play pbskids.org all the time. It's on my favorites list, and they know where to go and how to get to the games. So after some time I headed upstairs to check on him. He's was playing a batman game! I was so surprised. I asked him HOW he did this. He said, "I googled it." So I took him to the google page and asked him to show me what he did. He typed in this: batmangams. I couldn't believe it. Jonah (4 years old when this happened..now 5) feels no boundaries to what he can do - he doesn't feel held back by anything. If he has a want or a need, he thinks why not figure it out myself and make it happen.

Just today Jonah asked me if we still have birthdays after we die. Sometimes kids have crazy questions and it's hard to know what to say. I thought this was a cute one. What kid can imagine heaven without birthday parties. I'm sure we will have plenty of parties :).

Kyle was in his home office working on the computer. He was frustrated because he couldn't find the cordless mouse. Kyle said, "Wheeeere is the mouse?" Violet was nearby and answered , "Snake ate it." (we have a pet snake)

For my birthday my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law came over for lunch and cake. All the kids and adults were served cake and were happily eating away when we hear Violet shout from her high chair, "Hey, I want cake." We had forgotten to serve her cake. It was funny - especially the "hey" part, but maybe you had to be there. Or maybe it's just cuz I'm her mom!