The Harris' updated

We are all doing just fine. A few points of interest:

1. Edgar and I are looking forward to a Hawaii vacation! I know it is going to be amazing. Grandma Wendy is staying over to watch over the munchkins. I think if the kids had a choice, they would rather stay home with Granny Wendy, then go with mom & dad to the islands.

2. Traedon told Mackenzie that he knows what color puke is - "blonde". He also asked Laurie if Chinese people are 'real' people. Who knows what he meant by that? Maybe I need to be a little more pro-active when it comes to teaching him how to be politically correct. He does now ask me permission if he can talk to passerby's. So at least he is trying to not offend people to their faces. I do however have to admit that I am a proud mommy. He got up in front of the sacrement congregation and bore his testimony yesterday. Brie went with him, but he did it on his own. He wasn't nervous in the least. His little scratchy voice proclaimed how he believes in Jesus, and Jesus Christ (like they are 2 separate people). He also believes in the gospel, and knows that we can live with Heavenly Father again. He said that he believes in baptism and was glad to watch Luke be baptized. His testimony flowed, and had no hesitation. It is amazing watching the kids grow.

3. Rohnin already has 2 bottom teeth. He has found much enjoyment in biting his mommy. Mommy however has not taken as much pleasure in it, and has decided to ween the carnivorous child.

4. BrieOcea has decided to choose the right, and to not harbor an illegal hamster at her school. Her friend has been smuggling small pet rodents into their class, and wants Brie's help. Brie told me she decided to refrain from this activity, and was torn with whether or not to turn her friend in to the proper school authorities (ie...teacher's aide). She decided against it for fear of being labeled a tattle-tale, and also because the rodents were not in any immenent danger.

5. Lucas is on a health kick. He runs laps around our circular living/family area. He weighs himself, and is proud if the scale says more, or less poundage than the time before. Before he injests anything, he checks with me as to whether or not it is healthy. Is macaroni & cheese healthy for a kid? I said told him that it was.

BrieOcea Edde Harris

BrieOcea is a 10 year old darling child. Everybody loves to be around her. I find myself having to fight for her attention when her aunts, or grandma's are in town. She instinctively knows how to make people around her feel special and loved. She is also a huge help (at least up until she broke her wrist, we'll get to that later). She helps clean the house. She takes care of her brothers. She can even tackle a nasty Rohnin diaper without freaking out. Recently she has been off track from school, so I have been paying Lucas and her to help out at the daycare. They are teachers aide's with duties including: washing children's hands, serving lunches, reading stories, etc...The teachers enjoyed having their help. It also gave them a sense of responsibility, while teaching them how to save money in a savings account. All the children loved them. Brie was even known as Miss BrieOcea.

BrieOcea enjoys athletic activities. She likes to play tennis, and is turning out to be pretty good. She is a fast runner, and loves keeping active. She is recently getting good on the funky new 2 wheeled skateboard. She and Luke had the skateboard out the other day (finally a beautiful warm, snowless day). Luke came in crying, while bleeding from his elbow and knee. You would think he was about to die with the way he was carrying on. We cleaned him up, and he told me he was never going to ride that stupid thing again. I explained to him that he is going to fall down, all kids do, but you just got to get back up and practice and get better. I think Brie listened to that lesson a little too well. The next thing I know, I am sitting on the couch, nursing Rohnin, and there is a knock on the door. I am thinking, "great...I have to pull off this little sucker (pun intended), and get the door!" Then teary eyed Brie walks in. I was kind of annoyed that the kids were knocking on the door, when they can easily open it themselves. I ask in my annoyed voice "why are you guys knocking on the door?" A neighborhood lady walks in, and takes the blame for knocking. I felt a little sheepish, when I realized Brie was hurt. Apparently Brie was speeding down the hill on the board...a little too good, and way too fast. She realizes this, so decides to jump off before she crashes and burns. Well, her little legs couldn't keep up with the rest of her body, so she went crashing to the ground. She lay there crying, can't get up because her arm is broken. The neighbor lady comes to her rescue and brings her home. Brie, being the drama queen she is, makes it hard to know how really hurt she is. I gave her ice, and thought she would be back outside in a few minutes, but when the pain didn't go away, I decided to take her to the instacare the next morning. Yes, it is broken. Edgar was shocked, he thought she was being typical "everything is an emergency, Brie". To be honest, she is really lucky that she had the forsight to wear her helmet. She would have really hit her head good, because of the huge scratch/dent in her helmet.

Currently she can't hold Rohnin, I have to help her dress, I wash/brush her hair. It is odd for her to not be able to do things for herself. Tomorrow she is getting her real cast, I hope that it helps her be a little more independant. We will see. Pictured is Brie in her Easter dress & splint as well as the offending scateboard.

Brooks Lucas Harris

He is known to most by Lucas, or Luke. But recently among his school-mates, he goes by Brooks. However, if you happen to come across him at church, he prefers the moniker, LeLoy. I don't understand why he likes having so many alias's. I hope that he doesn't have an identity crises in the near future. Me, as his mom will continue to call him Lucas, but you may use what you like.

Lucas just turned 8, and is in 2nd grade. He is a very smart little kid, and all of his teachers love him at school. It is remarkable how he can have as many personalities as he does pseudonyms. At home, he likes to try my patience. He tries to act as crazy as possible, fight me about doing his chores, or act like the sweetest kid in the world. If he wants something out of me, he will exclaim "Quick! Everybody fold your arms!" Like this is going to make me buy him candy! He has a lot to learn. At school and at church he is a little angel, and loves to learn. When he is with his friends, he likes to be funny.

He loves video games and can keep up with his dad when they are playing Halo 3. He is learning to play tennis and to ride a skateboard. I think that he has alot of hidden talents. It is fun to get to know the person he is becoming.

He recently was baptised. I was pleased to have the opportunity to be with him when he had his bishop's interview. He was really excited about being able to have a one on one with the bishop. The bishop asked him many questions, and Luke answered 'yes' or 'no' to them, and didn't elaborate much. Then when the interview was finished, we left and he exclaimed, "That was so much fun!" I did not expect to hear that he had fun! He then went on to say, "I just had the best feeling when the bishop prayed, and when he asked me if I believed in Jesus, and the prophet, and the gospel!" I was so pleased that my crazy little boy had an actual spiritual experience. I told him that was the spirit testifying to him that the church is true, and that he was making the right decision to be baptised.

Traedon Kent Harris

Traedon is our third child, thus the name Trae. His middle name is for Grandpa Edde. He just turned 5 on January 14th. Trae is a very honest kid, at least ever since he cut his hair to his scalp. I think that is when he learned the importance of telling the truth. When I confronted him about his new 'short' hairstyle, he proceded to blame it on his brother. I almost believed him (because I wouldn't have put it past Luke) until he changed his story and said that BrieOcea did it. He finally came clean, and since then I don't recall him ever lying. Now when I confront him on why he mooned his brothers friend, or poured sugar in the formal living room, or even ask him what he is eating, he just responds, "am I grounded?"

Trae also loves telling jokes and making people laugh. When you see him next, ask him about his sausage joke, or the two thumbs joke. It might just make your day. He is very candid, and will say what is on his mind...whether it be telling a little girl that she is chubby, or letting a grandma-lady know that her teeth are yellow, and that she needs to brush them. I have tried to teach him how to say the politically correct answer when his aunts ask him who his favorite aunt is. I tell him "if it is only Kenzie, tell her that Kenzie is your favorite Aunt. If it is only Brooke tell her the Brooke is your favorite Aunt. But if it is both Kenzie and Brooke, tell them that it is a tie between Laurie, Stacy & Jill." Maybe it will get them to stop asking :)

Rohnin Shippee Harris

Rohnin is our fourth and final child. I am kind of sad to think that he is our last for the following reasons: 1. I really kind of like being pregnant and giving birth. 2. Babies are like candy, their burps are sweet as well as their poops. 3. Their smiles warm my heart. 4. I now feel the wrinkles starting to form around my eyes....(getting o l d)

Rohnin was born October 19th, 2007. He was named for a fallen Samarai (Ronin), kind of cool. His middle name is the family surname after whom Edgar was named (Edgar Andrew Shippee). This round-aboutly makes him named after his dad without plaguing a poor child with the name of Edgar...not that there is anything wrong with the name, only few can pull it off!

Rohnin came into the world after an eternity trying (well, maybe only a year. But it seemed like an eternity), and after a few miscarraiges. Edgar and I both feel very blessed to have him because we thought that we might be miscarrying him too. But after a priesthood blessing, and a miracle, we were able to bring a perfect 7lb 15 oz baby into the world. The delivery was cake, the recovery was more like peanut butter. He came home without any ailments, not even jaundis like the other three.

He is now nearly four months old, and sleeps through the night in his own crib. He loves to be held by anyone that will hold him. If you are lucky enough, he will give you a toothless wide-mouthed grin. If you are unlucky enough, that grin will be followed by puke.

I guess since everybody is doing it!

It looks as though all of my siblings are having a blast with blogging. I think I might try my hand at it, if only to do some sort of journaling. We will see how successful I become. If my blog becomes half as fun to read as my siblings, then I will have succeded. At least maybe my children will have something to read about in years to come (if I keep it up, and if it doesn't get erased...that would really suck, or not, depends).