VaLeNtiNes Sorensen StYLe!

THAT WAS THEN... February 2000-Valentines
This is the valentine my youngest sister wrote me that year! Incidentally we were a month away from taking a month "break-up" from each other...yet, she was right!
Yes, these are cupid wings we have on. We went and delivered goodies to mine and his siblings that were going to BYU, while wearing these LoVe WINGS! Now that I know Dan better-that was TRUE LOVE!

THIS IS NOW....
Valentines-February 2008
Valentines starts the night before while the kids are slumbering, and I am up making sugar cookies for Colton's class (1 dozen) some for the kids, one for my LOVE, and the ladies I visit teach! (Note to self: Stealing these kind of boxed cookie mixes from Mom-in-law they DO NOT rise they spread (unlike Great Grandma Roths recipe)-next time I use this kind, make one sheet cake cookie, or spread them out!)
I also wrote the kids their annual valentines 'card' telling them why we love them. It turned into a late night. I learned these traditions from my mom, now I know why she never slept the night before when there were 9 kids in my family! I am not the only one who worked hard on Valentines--Colton hand-made all 23 of his classmates Valentines cards, by choice! He started over a week before, with just crayons, glue and white paper--he was so creative..some were pop-ups and all!
However, when the table was set with their valentine books, cookie, and card I couldn't help but be excited for them to wake up and see it!
Dacie got heart jewlery-we figured she would only tear a book! ha ha
Remind me NEVER to decorate the sugar cookies with this type of icing. It got in hair, clothes and our carpet! (Note to self: These TYPE of sugar cookies taste good without icing (unlike Great Grandma Roth's recipe)! None needed)

I had too much fun putting stickers on Dacie, earrings, cheek tattoos. This was right before her nap! No camera mom, just a bottle!
I saw the shirt and thought it appropriate! ha ha
There is the smile!
I found a local pizza place that makes heart pizza's-we went and took one to dad at work..and left a little present and card in his car! We also went and delivered goodies to three ladies I visit teach!
After reading books, dancing, playing a game of operation...I think the boys were sick of having ME on Valentines. We also had two of my friends and some of their kids over in the morning (and Dacie caught the serious 'runs' from one of the babies, her bummy and temperent are not doing so hot today!2/16) Dan came home to a house full of sugar...literally, as my family (m&D, and sis) sent pixie sticks and fun dip! Our floor was caked in sugar, our counter full of cards and kids bouncing off the walls! LOVE IT! We ended the evening with a Valentines dinner. I shaped the hamburger patties like hearts, and we had pink salad, pink crystal light, and red chips! We let the kids watch a movie in their room and we watched one in the living room!BTW- I got a heart necklace with my birthstone and family represented on it, new earphones to exercise with my shuffle ipod, chocolates, pj pants and a card--I am spoiled too! We all collapsed in bed! Happy Valentines to all, and to all a good night!

PoKE Me In The EyE!!

Aunt Kerri taught us this little quote when something is frustrating, "Poke me in the eye!" There has been quite a few frustrating moments that have solicited this response the last couple of days...you wanna hear?! We came back from vacation in high hopes of being on the tail end of our sicknesses. After Colton being out of school for five days, he returned to school for two BEFORE throwing up in the middle of night. That stomach flu followed him for two and a half days, and anytime he put something into his tummy it came right back out. Now the babies both are filling their diapers with diarrhea (I know you wanted all the details, but don;t worry it is to make you feel sorry for us) Now I understand sickness IS a part of life and our imperfect bodies, BUT I believe we have had our fair share this winter and have not skipped a strand. Can we get a break?
These items have been a staple in our household this winter!

I am just going to give you a quick history so you do not think I am being pessimistic (like my brother said-we just view sickness differently than you I guess)Lets see...the first strand HIT Dacie the hardest, she had it for over three weeks and just when she was getting over it would get another slamming session. Sterling and I followed suit on his birthday. Then I picked up another mild form of it a week later. So, then there were some serious congestion coughs and ear infections. Then Sterling picked up strep throat and passed it down to his siblings. After that there was another trip to the drs. for two more sets of ear infections (Dacie and Sterling). Around Christmas Dan caught a bad case of strep and severe fever and cold--it knocked him out of two days vacation for Christmas. The antibiotics rocked his digestive tract and he battled issues for more than a week. Then Dacie got another bad cold and ear infections (it led Sterling into the urgent care for a bad ear infection), then Colton got this head cold that almost landed him in the ER for dehydration w/ fever blisters on his lips and listlessness (the dr. informed us next time to get him into the ER immediatly). He has had some tests done for his kidneys (from his past) to just be sure, since he was complaining about side pain. Sterling proceeded with another set of double ear infections and croup. Then Colton got this next round of stomach flu ( he usually is NOT the sick one)--and the babies have followed in a milder version (I hope).

I keep thinking it must be our home. So I spray and sterilize, and pump my children with vitamins, and wash hands, and sheets, and have my kids change clothes when they get home from school. Some of my friends call me a germ-a-phobe. Maybe I kill off all the good bacteria too (I doubt it...come on, I still have four kids SO I am NOT that on top of things). I don;t know... BUT I am weary. Dan says we need to take off for Hawaii for two weeks to get away from the germs and get rid of the ones we have! So IF you don;t hear from us that is where we are-ha ha ha (that would be nice). I am SICK of this~ ha ha literally

As if sick children are NOT the least of our frustrations. WHY do you EVER buy new cars instead of used? and WHY did we not get leather interior? We had our old gently used van for years with no incident. NO sooner than we got this NEW one did someone hit and run our front left fender (which costs more than our deductible to fix), cracked our windshield on our road trip to L.A. AND Ryland DREW all over the interior with PERMANENT MARKER!!!

AAAH! POKE ME IN THE EYE!

Many asked how did this happen? Well, it is a whole bunch of blame on everyone. Dan, for not letting me get leather interior like I wanted, too to save some money (which is NOT saved now),MY fault because I had mailed a package earlier in the day and left a permannet marker in my purse AND for letting Ryland get in the car without being strapped in his seatbelt for a few minutes (I promise it really was a very FEW), and Ryland's fault for disobeyeing the family rule of drawing ONLY on paper!!!!!!!!!
I came out ot he car and PANICKED!!!!!!!!!! There have been a few times in my life that I have physically had to remove my children and myself from each other because I was so ANGRY, I could not speak or think (the last time was when they painted the side of the house barn red with exterior paint). This was one of those times, I could not say anything. I just drove to Dan. I guess that scared Ryland enough because he cried and cried saying things like: "it is all my fault" "is daddy going to kill me?" and "Is daddy going to throw me in the trash?" (yeah-since we have done ALL of these in the past-ha ha) Dan felt so bad he was so scared of him he drove him home in his race car (his little OLD red roller skate commuter car) and explained that he still LOVES him, but he made a BAD BAD choice. Ryland is grounded from coloring in any form (etch-a-sketch, crayons, computer games) for a month (that is going to be a mother punishment too-as he enjoys doing it EVERY day).
What can you do? We have been contacting wrecking yards and dumps trying to get a hold of headrests (as KIA charges 150 dollars a pop-and doesn't carry some of them, since we need five of the six headrests in the car replaced)

So IF ANYONE has ANY IDEAS how to get out permannent marker--FEEL FREE TO COMMENT!

But for now-POKE ME IN THE EYE!!!!!!!!

VacaTioN SoRenSeN StyLe!!

Our vacations are rarely our own-we LOVE sharing them with family. We choose it and like it that way. The boys rarely get to see their only cousins, so it is always a treat when we can get together in whatever form. We Love that they Love each other, and rejoice in their friendships.

Here is our 2 pacifier babies Ryland (2 turning 3 in March) and cousin Boston (turning 3 in August) They looked so dang cute peeking out with their pacy's.

When people ask how vacation was we all Tell them YES!! A GREAT TIME! But when we get down to the details-they wonder how, but somehow we DID!

The trip was in jeopardy when Thursday 1/24 morning rolled around and Colton was dry heaving and far from normal. Sterling was STILL running a high fever after being on antibiotics for 24 hours, and kind temperaments were lacking (Ryland and Dacie pulled through for the team NOT getting sick at all while on the trip). I refused to be left alone for five days with sick kids and NO car, so I cried a bit, made phone calls and charged ahead acting as if we were going. I got a babysitter and got the car tires repaired, rotated, and oil changed. Then I went and picked up prescriptions and shopped for the trip.I had everyone and the car packed, kids bathed, and pj's on by the time Dan got home from work on Thursday afternoon. We took off with the back seat covered with plastic splat mats. The trip was fair. DACIE IS NOT A GOOD PASSENGER. She screamed about four of the seven hours in the car-NO LIE! (on the way there-the way back was MUCH better). That is even with toys, food and DVD player--Thank heavens I had my new i pod shuffle to plop into my ears! We are grateful for other options with kids meals so that they were not having to eat greasy fries and hamburgers on the LONG car ride. Milk and applesauce sounds more appetizing don't you think? Here is my little princes with their princess in the back seat (notice Dacie's chair is stripped from all padding, she leaked through all her clothes and two chair pads--think she drank allot?)
We arrived late that (1/24) evening and gave my brothers house one more night away from the sickos-little did they know they had their own pot a brewing(what are the chances of that)! After six hours of being with us their two sons began throwing up, at least, once an hour and they had a VERY LONG night at home while we had a little bit less LONG of a night waking up every two hours in the motel. This was after my sister-in-law had been contracting all day.I pulled out my back on Sunday and lived on Ibuprofen. Don;t feel too bad for us! Check out my later posts. Somehow we managed to have FUN! Here is a picture of where my brother works. I got to pick him up and see all the PICKETING script writers in their rain gear for all you lonely the office fans!!!
Sickness and rain follow us where ere we go! It rained, and rained and rained, so the zoo and beach were out~ BUT we did get to go to the playground in between rain clouds and chase Uncle Chad (the kids don;t know the difference between the zoo or him-ha ha)!

This was the QUIETest it EVER was in their apartment the whole time we were there. We got all the boys to play the 'quiet game'. Can you tell who lost?...RYLAND

When you are indoors for that long with a BUNCH of BOYS and CRAZAY Uncle Chad there is bound to be some wrestling
....and more wrestling
..and more wrestling (now Dacie is scoping it out)
The boys trying to fix Uncle Chad after they destroyed him by piling their dirty laundry on him! That makes sense-it works every time!
Dacie got to FiNaLlY join. Yea right we have a chance in a billion she will be a calm, passive GiRl. The adults got some games, meals and conversing in as well. We are grateful we got away for a bit and don;t regret and ounce of it!

3 StaR HoTeL!!!!

When making accommodations for this business trip,we decided to try out the hotwire.com website. It was a SUPER sweet deal. We stayed in a 3-star hotel for $75 a night in LA!! The drawback was that they give you a general area and NO specifics UNTIL after you make the reservations (& a 15 dollar a day parking fee, which they neglected to mention anywhere-that is just how it is there!). We bit the bullet and did it. It turned out great-it was no more than a 15 minute drive on BAD traffic days to my brothers and Dan's conference. The hotel was super classy. Dan and I did not get to enjoy it as we would have (pool, rec center, TV, Comfy beds)-as we had sick kids and sleeping babies next to us and in the bathroom (Sterling's croup like cough got so bad one night he threw up--and he was keeping us ALL awake..so i turned on the HOT shower and steamed it up good-where he slept on his air bed the rest of the evening~ he has done better since) sleeping and playing in a small room a majority of the time.

I think the room was one of Dacie's favorite parts of the trip! She had a mirror she could laugh and talk to herself with! Mirror, mirror on the wall who it the funniest of them all?
These WERE the most comfortable beds I have slept on in a motel. Down comforters w/ a pillow top mattress! Dacie agrees!!!
Oh-what the heck, room service rocked! I left the motel a crumbly, toilet papered mess and came home to a CLEAN house! I did not have to clean...sweet!

Laundry Time!!!

No One, I mean NO ONE, should have this good of a time with their dirty laundry!!(check out the peacock feather on her head after we took out her pigtail!) Dacie was forever playing in her basket, so I snuck over with the camera...


AND she turned INTO A HAM! We had our own little photo shoot going on as she scrunched up her nose, laughed at herself, switched poses, and thought she was the cutest thing ever (which she was) while I snapped away!





Amidst the sickness in our home there are still some GREAT things to smile about! (like dirty laundry)She is so funny!

T-Minus 3 days and counting....

Until DaCiE AnN SoReNsEn turns 1!!!!!

Dacie's first birthday is this Friday the 25th of January!!

Sooo guess who got to bow making?

You may have to wait for the details as we are following daddy to a conference in Burbank and going to be partying with cousins!!!! (that is if we can all get well-Colton threw up what little he had in him after 3 days of 103 fever and being unresponsive, and is borderline dehydrated --no strep and no kidney problems as we can see w/ tests from the drs.--so lets hope we can escape with only one casualty this time!)
Dacie IS a SORENSEN--She LoVes that pizza!
I have the perfect little outfit to go with this bow. I am excited to take pictures at the zoo and gourmet cupcake shop!!!! AAAh LOVE having a GiRl!!!!

Another Peaceful Sunday Evening?

I don't know what it is about Sunday evenings that brings out the 'dancers' in my children! BUT they somehow manage to dance, run, twirl, pillow dance(Dacie), ball bounce (Sterling) to even the calmest of music!
You would have NEVER guessed that Colton had been running 102-103 fevers for two days and had been flat in bed-we even had to wake him up to give him medicine all day. I guess the meds had kicked in at this point, because he is right back on the couch this morning with no energy!

Dacie was rockin' out- head banging and everything (which even solicited a smile from her rocker Dad). I wish I knew how to do the video clips on my computer HOWEVER I have been having the hardest time accessing my friends videos on their blogs (it always says buffering for loads of minutes and then goes black) ~ So one less thing to worry about I guess!
At least, the day of rest ended in some scripture study. I am so grateful for Dan for doing this, he is vigilant about teaching our children the scriptures.

Some Dacie side notes for ya:

*Dacie and I officially stopped nursing this week! It was her 1st year b-day gift to me. I enjoy having my body back, and she had no more interest!

*As some of you might know I have an obsessive compulsive disorder about towels being hung straight (in kitchens and bathrooms). Children are here to teach us right? So Dacie's new fixation is ripping ALL the towels down in ANY room she enters and then leaves them on the floor in rumpled messes. Soon as I go in and fix it, the next time I go in the room it is down again! aaah! Stinker