Where we've been

Our December was full-very, very full--which is how we seem to like life. I'm still trying to recover from the whirlwind. Normally, it is a busy month for us, with 2 birthdays and Christmas and the normal festivities that go with it, but this year we added company for 10 days, I've been sick off and on (still not over it), a few trips to Idaho, we decided to build a house, and Deidra and I started a new blog, JoAnn's Special (because really, doesn't the world need another blog?)

Christmas Eve day Chod and I were both sick. Fevers and we couldn't breathe--it seems to be hanging out in the lungs. The fevers left before Christmas Day, but our lack of breathing hung around for few more days. It was almost comical how pitiful we were. Walking up stairs would practically do us in. Chod seems to be over it, but I've had 2 relapses. Each time the fever would be gone within 12 hours, but I still can't take full, deep breathes. It's no longer funny and my to-do list just keeps getting longer and nothing is getting crossed off. Here's what we've been up to.

Right after Christmas my parents kept the grandkids and sent the aunts and uncles on an Amazing Race type adventure. We followed our clues and had a fun time--8 of us in the suburban-it was like a clown car! The grandkids and Grandma and Grandpa had fun too! Thanks Mom and Dad!

Bentley turned 5! Which means in only 7 years he can get an iPad of his own (we've set the age at 12), this year he will start kindergarten. The celebration was very laid back, but he did get the chocolate cupcakes he requested.

Deidra and Chris were here (Utah and Idaho) for 3 weeks and we were lucky to have them stay with us their first 5 and last 5 days out west. We attempted to go to the MoTab/David Archuletta concert, but after standing in line with tickets for a long time we found there were no seats available. Bentley and Lincoln loved their time with Aunt Deid and Chris and we're again back to hearing how much Bentley misses them every day. When we get in the car Lincoln always requests to go to Indiana. Maybe one day.

New Year's Eve day we headed to Rigby to see Chod's brother and sister-in-law up from AZ and Chod fixed a computer problem at the office. We came back that night to a New Year's Eve party in the works at our house. Deidra and Chris had come back to town a day early and invited over Tameka and Ty and Whitney and Brian for some New Year's Eve celebrating. Good thing it was all family, because we hadn't left the house party ready.

Five days later the Geek Squad returned to Rigby as Chod fixed another computer problem at the office. This is when I mention that for a week Lincoln had been having the worst diapers (8-12 poopy ones a day) and the worst case of diaper rash ever. This led to the car ride home from hell. About Pocatello he woke up screaming, so assuming he needed his diaper changed we stopped at Maverick and Chod took him in. They returned to the car and Chod said he wasn't even wet. Immediately after sitting down Lincoln started in with a blood curling scream. As we were leaving the parking lot Chod wondered what he had put on Lincoln's bum (thinking it was a diaper rash something or other) instead what he pulled out was Eucerin Calming Creme. Which Lincoln hates on his healthy skin, it seems to really sting. So on the red little bum it was brutal. We took the next exit and wiped the stuff off. Then he refused to have another diaper or even pants put back on. So we sat in a gas station parking lot holding a bare bummed crying little guy for at least a half hour. Eventually, through a lot of tears we got a diaper and jammie bottoms on him and an offer to play the iPad miraculously cured all problems (should have pulled it out much, much sooner)!

Yesterday, Chod started back to school. It is his first semester with a full load of classes in a long time. Some how he's planning to squeeze in 18 credits and 40 hours of work a week. And then we add building a house to the mix. It's going to be a fun one!