The Giller Family

Our fish family is complete. The Fish Nazi's allowed us to bring home two more fish. (See previous blogs for Fish Nazi information.) We now have Gordan, Ilene, Nathan, Niles (A.K.A Great Sharky Shark) and Lance. Miles's fish got a longer name because it's a little shark, and Miles's favorite book right now is called Great Sharky Shark.
I have to admit that even though fish don't do much of anything, it's still been fun to have them. At last, our pet quest is complete.

Mason's Field Trip

Today, Mason went bowling for the first time with his preschool class. He had a blast. It was so funny to watch him bowl. He'd walk up to the top of the lane, and just kind of drop the ball. It sounded like he was going to break the floor! Then, the ball would slowly make it's way down the lane until it would hit the pins, then stop. He felt victorious with every pin he knocked down. It was so cute! He's so funny to watch because he has no hips, and his pants kept falling down and you can always see the top of his underwear. So he'd bowl, then grab his belt loops, then hop up and down to pull up his pants.
Mason has also been taking swin lessons. He has had issues with water before, but has been very brave during his lessons. I am so proud of him.

Oh, the lady in the picture is Mrs. Grabow, Mason's teacher.

News from the Weekend

Yesterday in church, I was released from Young Women's. The whole presidency was released. With Jordan in the bishopric, I just was not able to help as much as I wanted to. I will really miss working with the girls. They are awesome. I did get called to be the Sunday School teacher for the 14 and 15 year olds. It's mostly a class of boys, so that will be interesting! At least there is one girl in there. I get to team teach, so I don't have to teach every week.
On Saturday, I got to go on a shopping spree with some of our tax money. It was so much fun! I got $500 dollars worth of clothes for $250 at Younkers. Jordan went with me and he was a great personal shopper. He gave really good opinions, and I think he had a good time too. I hope I can do that again some day soon! I got a pair of simple blank(pointy)heels, three pairs of jeans, dress capri's, the cutest pair of shorts, and four new shirts.
In other news, I am going under the knife again. Okay, it's not really that dramatic, it just sounds cool. Last March I had half of my thyroid removed because there was a golf size tumor in it(non-cancerous, thank goodness). The surgery went perfect, but the scar from the surgery hasn't healed to great. So, on the 19th of April, the doctor is going to cut out the old scar, and restitch it. Hopefully the results will be worth it.

Another Funny Line from Miles

The other day we were watching TV and a Victoria's Secret commercial came on. Scantily clad women started walking across the screen. And Miles exclaimed, "Tummies!" This has happened a few times now. We were in the checkout line in the store on Monday, and one of the magazines on display had a lady in a bikini. Miles again said "A tummy!" At least he's not looking somewhere else yet!

Miles's Third Birthday

Friday was Miles 3rd birthday. We had Grandma and Grandpa Miller over for pizza, and went to the church to so Miles could ride his new bike. I forgot about the fact that he does not know how to pedal yet, so he did not get very far! We'll work on it. The best part of the day was the Link cake. Miles was so excited. (For those of you who don't know, Miles really likes the character Link from the video game Zelda. He watched his uncles play it while we were in Utah.) Miles has also enjoyed the Leapfrog notebook he received from Grandma and Grandpa Miller, and the Little Einsteins video from Grandma and Grandpa Bryson.

A Small Miracle

A small miracle has happened. For the first time since he was born, almost seven months ago, Vance slept through the night. I am so happy!! He was still getting up two or three times a night, and I was about to go crazy. So, on Tuesday, we took Miles out of Vance's room and put him in with Mason. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday night, I just let Vance cry himself to sleep when he woke up. I know that sounds so mean, but that's what you have to do sometimes. Well, it seems to have worked!! Hopefully it sticks.
Today is Miles 3rd birthday, so I will post some pictures from his birthday celebration later this evening.

The Giant Egg

This is a picture of the light that is in the entryway of our home. For awhile now, Miles has called it a giant egg, which makes sense, because if you do look at it from below, it does look like an egg. Now Miles has informed me what the giant egg contains. It is a giant squid. I guess we are going to need a larger fish tank!

Pet Quest:Part 3

Apparently, we decided to buy fish from the Fish Nazi. NO FISH FOR YOU!! Well, actually, if you do things just right(like the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld)you can get your fish. So, last night, we finally met the requirements for perfect fish water, and were allowed to take home three of the worlds smallest fish. So now, $150+ later, we have our pet. For the money and time these fish cost, they'd better live to be at least 100 years old!

We can bring back yet another water sample in a couple weeks. And maybe, just maybe, the Fish Nazi will allow us to bring home another fish or two for our tank.

Pet Quest:Part Two

We told the boys that on Saturday, we would go get their fish. So, we loaded all the kids in the van, and headed off to the pet shop once again. With us, we had a sample of the water from the fish tank. At the pet store(which is not that close to home, by the way) we were informed our water is still not ready for fish. So, after purchasing bacteria to add to the water, we again left the pet store fishless.
We are beginning to think that maybe the dog would have been easier. Oh well. We'll just keep admiring our rock tank. They are very nice rocks.
In other news, church was canceled today because of a natural gas leak. Jordan left for meetings at seven o'clock this morning, and then called to inform me of the news. I hope he doesn't have to spend all day at the church taking care of the problem. Meanwhile, the boys and I will stay home and veg out in our PJ's.

Our quest for a pet

So, on Wednesday, Jordan came home from work, picked up Mason, and left again. He came back an hour later with Mason...and a puppy. An unauthorized puppy. The boys were thrilled. I was not. So, after much discussion, the dog was returned the next morning. I feel so bad, but a dog is just not something I can handle right now. Three young children are enough. The puppy really was very cute, and I have promised Jordan when the kids are a little older, we can get a dog then.

Since I was such a mean mom for not letting the dog stay, we decided to get fish. $120 dollars later, we have a tank with rocks in it. Isn't it lovely? I guess, for the benefit of the fish, you need to let the water sit for a couple days. On Saturday, we will go pick up two or three fish. The lady at the pet store said you have to introduce fish into the tank slowly. Our goal is to get five fish. I want to name them Gordan, Ilene, Nathan, Niles and Lance Giller. Oh, and we need some plants for the tank to hide all the lovely wires behind it. I thought fish would be pretty non-committal, but I guess we are in this for the long haul!

Children and Food

Yesterday I made Mason and Miles Kid Cuisine's for dinner(microwave meals for kids). After Mason ate his, he said to me, "Mom, that was the best meal you have ever made." That just says loads about my cooking!!
I finally found a food that Vance likes. I was having such a hard time feeding him. He would clamp his little lips and I'd have to wiggle the spoon into his mouth. But now, I've discovered that he loves bananas(in the pureed form), and he can not eat them fast enough. I added some to his rice cereal last night, and he even ate that well, and that has never happened! Hopefully, the next time he goes to the doctor, they will be happy with his weight. We went to the doctor a couple weeks ago, and he said Vance had not gained enough. We'll see how it goes.