Florida

Edgar and I got to go see Mackenzie in Florida before she moved to Mississippi. It was kind of spur of the moment. We were thinking of sending Brie out for her birthday, and we found tickets for $300. Then we realized that since she is a minor, we would have to spend an extra $200 escort fee. I had the bright idea, why not I go? Then I wouldn't have to pay the escort fee...it would just be $100 more. Then Edgar got really jealous. He has never been East of Utah, and his 11 year old daughter has been to Georgia. So poor Brie got nixed out of the equation, and Edgar and I got to go to Florida. I have to tell you...Mackenzie is the best host ever. We even had a better time in Florida then we did in Hawaii. Isn't that crazy? We are pretty sure it is because Kenzie knows all the fun spots, and all the great restaurants, and all the best beaches. And because she is so sponaneous and hilarious. If anyone has an opportunity to visit Kenzie, I highly recommend it. I bet she could even make Mississippi fun, even though she calls it 'the arm-pit' of America (to put it lightly). One of the restaurants we went to is Bonefish. This is the restaurant that JT is going to be Proprieter of. I have to say that I am excited for them. It was awesome! We also had incredible Sushi, rented Jetski's, & swam in the ocean. Edgar even got injured while wrestling an aligator in the ocean (at least that's what we told the kids).

WARNING: Not for the Squeamish!

So, on Tuesday I got a frantic call from Lucas. I was coming home from work, and driving to pick up the boys. He screamed, "Mom, something really bad happened!" He then went on to tell me that "Brie spilled boiling water on herself, and her skin is bubbling and coming off!" I gave him instructions to take care of her, then called a neighbor who came to see what was going on. Jocelyn (the neighbor) told me that Brie needs to go to the Emergency Room. She then took her, and Edgar rushed to meet her at the hospital. I made my way there as well. The doctor put an IV in her arm, and pumped her with morphine. He then went on to clean her wounds by scrubbing all the dead skin and blisters off. It was really hard for a mom to watch. She was in alot of pain, even with the morphine. I got sick and pale, I thought I was going to faint. The doctor discharged her with directions for me to change her dressings twice a day, and clean the wounds. She hates every second of this process. He gave her Loritab in liquid form, and sent her home to heal. Ed and our home teacher gave her a blessing. She is doing really good, all things considered. She was even able to help me clean the house today! She is sad to miss her field trip to the zoo tomorrow, but I think that it is important for her to have some time to heal.

Bouncy Curls

Ok, fortunately not curly, but definately bouncy! He did have lots of body after giving his locks a lift with velcro rollers. Needless to say I have not stooped to putting curls in his hair again. He does not like the femine look, even if I tried to tell him it was not girly...just metro-sexual. I think he would be thrilled if I gave him a buz. I told him that he can have a hair cut after we get some family pictures taken (it may only be one hair, we will see).

An update with us: Most everyone knows that Ed got a new job in Utah County. He works for Access Data doing 'data forensics'. It would be awesome if someone produced a show called 'CSI Orem' - staring Edgar Harris, Data Forensics. But alas his job is not as glamorous as it sounds (he is still just a software engineer). He does enjoy it however, and he works with most of his good buddies. I still work in Provo for 'The Generations Network", and I have the daycare. I am soon to transfer the big kids to a school in Provo. Essentially we are living in Utah County and sleeping in Herriman. We have put our house on the market in hopes to sleep in the town we live. Unfortunately the market sucks! We have had ZERO people look at our house. It is all just fine because we love our home, and we love Herriman. So we are content to live out our days there. But if anyone is interested in an awesome house, check it out!http://www.utahrealestate.com/829667

Will He Ever Forgive Me?

I have heard that once you post something on the Internet, it is there forever, but...Traedon is just too fun. He is a great sport and lets me have lots of fun with his hair. I have been told that I need to have another girl. I don't know if that is the case. Brie lets me treat her like a girlie girl enough.

I have a new conundrum. I am trying to decide whether or not to transfer schools for Brie and Luke. Traedon currently is attending kindergarten in Provo so he can go to our daycare the other half of the day. Brie and Luke however go to school in Herriman. They walk home together and are required to take care of each other after school till Ed or I get home. Most of the time they follow the rules and get along splendidly. But recently they have been fighting, and the way I hear it, their fights are knock out drag down fights including hitting, kicking pulling hair, scratching, & throwing shoes at each other...all with an audience of the neighbors! I am pretty much shocked at their behavior, and am seriously close to transferring them to the same school as Traedon. That way they won't have to walk home together, and be home by themselves. The daycare will pick them up from school and keep them busy and getting along. The downfall is that they will have to transfer schools...new friends, might get behind...whatever else comes along with transferring. What does everyone think?

Holy Cats! It was a Tie!

For now, since I am the mom, I get to break the tie. I am going to keep Traedon's hair in a longer style. I understand the hot summer - short hair conflict, and the unruly bedhead that he usually wakes up with dilemma; but for now, I am lovin' the long hair. When I actually take the time to do it with gel it has a cute curl to it. I have also round brushed it with a blow dryer which gives him that movie star air. The other day I even straight ironed it which made him look like a rocker. It is so much fun! I think that when he goes to kindergarten on a daily basis, I will take more time to fluff his lovely locks...rather then sending him to school with his crazy bedhead.

These pictures that I attached were recently taken at my daycare. I thought the photographer did a good job. I was just sad that Brie and Luke were at school that day, and didn't get in on the fun.

I've Got To Work It!

Today is my littlest sister's birthday. I want to use this forum to wish her a happy one! How old is she, lets think...she is 9 years younger than me, and I am 32...that must make her 23! I knew my highschool calculus class would come in handy one day! She now resides in Florida, and is soon moving to Mississippi. She is an artist at Saks Fifth Avenue, making women beautiful every day. She is married to a cool guy who reminds me a bit of my husband, in the sense that he is driven, smart, loves his wife, and valiantly tries (and fails) to give Lucas a run for his money in Halo (that will teach him to try to cheat an 8 year old out of his weekly allowance).

I just wanted to jot a few fun memories of my little sis:

1. I remember when she was born, I of course was 9. Leading up to her birthday mom and dad picked her name out...I thought it was awesome! I remember always starting to tell my friends, but forgetting because back then it was so odd and unique. I was even captured on camera forgetting her name.

2. Mackenzie was a perfect image of a healthy baby; chubby with huge blue eyes and mile long lashes. She was so much fun and had many admirers. I remember when she got really sick as an infant. We took her to the doctor to see what was wrong with her. Mom was incredibly nervous as well as the doctors, and they put that poor baby through tests including a spinal tap because they thought that she had spinal meningitis. I was young, but I knew that it could have been life threatening. We were relieved when all she had was the measles.

3. When Mackenzie was a toddler/little kid, we all loved to dress her up in makeup, mom's bra, wigs...you name it. It was hilarious to get her to dance and repeat funny things in front of the camera.

4. I moved out of the house when she was 8, but I remember coming home and being really excited to be around her. She was always fun, and always genuinely thrilled to be around me. It made me feel good to be her big sister. I always wanted to steal her away, and have her live in my dorm room (hide her in the closet or something).

5. Mackenzie was thrilled when she found out that she was going to have a niece (Brie)! We always found excuses to get together. She was such a huge help for me. She put off becoming too involved with being a teenager and was my little babysitter/house cleaner. I seriously don't know what I would have done with out her. She became an even bigger help when I had Lucas and was single. I remember that I would drop the kids off at mom's house so I could go to school. When I later came home, I came home to a clean house and a homemade cheesecake. Apparently she had made her way to my house, and cleaned the pigsty, and cooked for me!

6. When Mackenzie entered her 'true teenage years', she remained my constant helper and friend...even though she was drop-dead gorgeous, with boyfriends coming out of her ears. We would talk like friends, even though nearly a decade separated us in age. She even was gracious enough to make an appearance at my wedding open house when I married Ed...even though it was prom night. She and Stacy stopped by with their runway dresses, super model bodies, bad-ass up-dos, and pimply faced drooling boyfriends. She now feels bad about this, and apologizes for not blowing off prom. But I was glad to have a couple of beautiful girls make an appearance at my open house. Friends of me and Ed's wondered why mysterious model-superstars came to our open house. From then on I am sure our friends thought we were cool rather than a nerdy computer guy and a geeky accounting chic.

7. Today I relish any time I get to spend with Kenzie. She visits us often, and nobody can get enough of her. Everything that comes out of her mouth is shocking, yet she makes everyone feel special and loved. No moment is a dull moment when Kenze is in your presence. She is pulled in every direction with all of her friends and all of her family hoping to get a piece of her. When she left Utah yesterday, BrieOcea hysterically cried at her imminent departure...almost to the extent that she did when King Kong died.

Happy Birthday Mackenzie! I hope that you realize how much everyone loves you. All of your family would do anything for you. I hope to follow your example and be a better sister/friend/aunt. I know that you are going to do great in Mississippi...just don't forget about us here in Utah! Love You!

Jamie

It Might Be Time For a Haircut...

Well, I have been experimenting with Traedon's hair. I have been trying to grow it to a cute longer length for a while. In the past, I gave up once his hair reached a certain point that nothing could make it look cute. Other times, when I finally got past that point...and it was just starting to look seriously cutie-pie -- my sister or mom, or some other sinister person got to him with the scissors. I think that they thought it better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission, for the sake of my son who was starting to look like my daughter. Anyways, it finally reached a cute length. I like it, and I want to see it get a little longer...we have come all this way! Admittedly it does often look scroungy soon after I spend time teasing it in a 'Zack & Cody' kind of way. Ed also says on occasion..."Jamie, I think it might be time to cut his hair." I chalk this opinion up to all of Edgar's taste being in his mouth. Traedon also looks incredibly sweet with short hair. Please help me make my decision by voting in my poll above. Just keep in mind that your vote will most likely determine the course of my young son's life! :)