Happy New Year!

We hope your year is "sweet" and "krispy"! (sorry, I had nothing)Happy 2009 from the Eastmans

12 goin on 13 ...

Congratulations Looloo!She memorized all 13 Articles of Faith . . . and won this lovely Hershey's candy bar!

Looloo's 12th Birthday Party

We went to the mall (at Christmas time ... yes I'm crazy) and did a scavenger hunt! They had to get a picture of a store employee giving the "peace" sign ... model prom dresses ... kiss a mannequin ... etc. The girls had a great time! Happy Birthday Looloo!

American Idol

Watch out American Idol ... Ebbles is on her way! While we were cleaning up after our ward Christmas party tonight, Ebbles made her way to the microphone. She's a natural, as you can see in the video. (The audio is just background noise ... unfortunately, we have no idea what she was singing. Her expressions are the best part anyway!)

I think instead of calling her "Ebbles J" (Dad's nickname for her), we should call her "Eyebrows J"!

He's the Man

I've spent the majority of the week studying for 3 semester finals ... Logic and Anatomy/Physiology. To make matters more stressful, Looloo dropped the bomb a few days ago ... she needed a costume for her Greek Mythology unit. She is portraying the goddess Artemis. Yesterday ... after her Christmas band concert (where she played 3 different types of drums beautifully!) we rushed to Wal-Mart to purchase the materials. We prepared the pieces, and I explained to her in detail how it would be done. While I was at the library studying, she calls frantically ... she needs help. Out of desperation I decided to take care of it when I got home at 10:00 tonight, knowing I still had more notes to review. When I got home this evening, my hero ... Tom ... was busily finishing the project for me! Like I said ... he's the MAN! Thank you Tom!!

A new twist on Humpty Dumpty

Kiwi's 7th grade Youth Leadership class is doing a unit on budgeting/family management. She was given a fictional husband, job, income and was assigned to "purchase" a house, car, insurance, etc. As part of the assignment, she was to care for her two children (2 hard-boiled eggs) named Starlight and Sunshine ... no joke, she really gave them those names.
Okay, funny story (pardon me while I stray a little). I've told Tom for years that Kiwi would be the one to give us grandchildren named "Earth" and "Heaven", etc. The look on his face was priceless when he heard Starlight and Sunshine! He called them LiteBrite and MoonBeam for the rest of the day.
... back to Humpty Dumpty ... the assignment was that she take care of the eggs as she would her own babies. If anything happened, she would be expected to cover any medical treatment costs, and even funeral costs if necessary. She did an excellent job too, except her problem was her big brother! Two days after she brought them home, Teej sat on them while he was trying to wrestle with her. Kiwi was already paying for Sunshine's last visit to the ICU (Kiwi knocked her off the kitchen counter ... accidentally, of course). So, Teej bandaged Sunshine up, and made her a wheelchair. Funniest thing ever!
BTW, I'm so bad at this blogging stuff ... Happy Thanksgiving (2 days ago) everyone!

Happy Birthday Tom!

(In case you can't tell he's the one with the great legs on the far right!)
Happy Birthday, Tommy Boy ... party like a "Party Bro" should!

Happy Halloween!

This Halloween was a little weird this year. Teej was gone with the high school marching band to a football game against Broken Arrow (which, by the way we got slaughtered). LooLoo passed out candy to the trick-or-treaters, so neither one dressed in costumes. We had fun with those who did ... enjoy the pics!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Experiment - A Final Compromise

Day 4 (Sunday) was pretty much a flop! Tom just couldn't seem to NOT remind them ... I think it was driving him crazy (regardless of how many times I would give him "the look").
So, Monday we explained the Experiment to them in a family meeting. I had hoped we would end up with a disturbingly, disastrous house ... but the truth is ... it wasn't all that bad! And, it wasn't entirely due to Tom's neurotic behavior Sunday. This is what we decided as a family:
1) Their chores will be done BEFORE they can watch TV or play any electronic game. The chores also include making their bed & picking up clothes ... as I mentioned before, this is something I think every person should do daily.
2) If they didn't do dishes on their night, they will still be responsible the next day.
3) Use common sense and pick-up after ourselves ... ongoing project!
4) Mom's going to chill out a bit! I stress easily, especially over the house ... and with this many people in a small house, I get stressed often. I believe their request was for a happy Mom ... I can handle a goal like that!

Speaking of loosening up ... we made a "Spider Web Pizza" for dinner last night (amongst a less than perfect house, I might add). The idea came from the October issue of Woman's Day magazine. I think Maddette & LooLoo enjoyed it the most ... they're the ones that helped!

The Experiment

Since the birth of our sixth child, I've been overwhelmed & haven't been able to shake this feeling of ... TOTAL OVERLOAD! After her surgery, our family settled down for a time ... then I started back to school in pursuit of a nursing degree. Schooling has taken me away from my family some, and I haven't been able to do as much for them as before. I've realized HOW MUCH I do for my family! Two things occurred to me ... 1) my children cannot function without me ... 2) I haven't taught my children how to take care of themselves! This is significant considering Teej will be on his own in a few short years. So ... I came up with an experiment.

Day 1 (2 days ago) I got up this morning and wrote "Experiment" on my mirror with a dry erase marker & tied a ribbon around my finger to help me remember ... not to lose my mind that is! I did my morning chores and cleaned up after myself & the two babies - no more. Initially, I was not to mention the word "chore" or ask anyone to pick up after themselves. Kiwi asked for permission to have a friend over, and that is when I decided to tell her “no”. She panicked and immediately asked why … I didn’t answer. She scrambled around the house and asked question after question as to what she needed to do or what she didn’t do. The night before she had slept on the couch, and the entire day the couch pillows were strewn all over the living room floor. She thought to pick that up with hopes that would resolve her dilemma. I finally said she was 13 years old, and I didn’t need to remind her of her responsibilities.

Day 2 (Yesterday) Today started with a prayer, a prayer for strength to keep up the ability to “ignore” the mess in my house. At one point I truly believed I would hyperventilate! Looloo asked if she and Maddette could watch a movie after they took care of their responsibilities. I told her how impressed I was that she would think to do that, and she said she knew I would tell her to anyway. Amazingly, chores were done … yet their beds were not made and their clothes were still on the floor (two things I think a functioning person should do on a daily basis). Even after Looloo began cleaning her bedroom because she thought that’s what was keeping her from watching the movie, I never caved … I kept my mouth shut, except to say they were old enough to know their responsibilities.
After dinner, I ignored the urge to remind Kiwi she had dish duty, and left the dirty dishes in the sink and on the table. At some point tomorrow we will run out of dishes, and someone will complain … that will be when I can calmly say, Kiwi didn’t do the dishes last night. Typically, the kids are assigned a day to do the dishes. If they’re not done, it is taken care of in the morning after they’re at school. I think I’ll let them sit until the person responsible does their job. Soon I will be working two 12-14 hour shifts in a hospital in Tulsa as a nurse. I need my family to function without me, if necessary. Brother Dave Young once told me that a successful president is one that can leave and the organization will still run properly. I have done too much, and I have not allowed my family the opportunity to learn to take care of themselves.

Day 3 (Today) Success! Tom, Tyler & Teej came back from a Father/Son campout and the dishes were oozing out of the kitchen. He complained and I said "the person who had dishes last night didn't do them"! Kiwi immediately said "I'll do it". (That actually irks me a bit ... that shows she knew all along she didn't do it.) ugh! So far my breathing is normal ... I may have to leave the house for a few hours. On the plus side, Looloo did her jobs this morning before she asked if she could play video games!

Happy Birthday Girls!

October 15, 1999 & October 8, 2006 are days that 2 very important people came to join our family ... Madalyn & Claira! Saturday we celebrated Madalyn's 8th, no wait 9th (hee hee), and Claira's 2nd birthdays at the Rec Center. The kids swam in the indoor pool ... and then froze outside on the patio for cupcakes & ice cream (well, at least they got to LOOK at the ice cream ... I forgot the spoons).

Madalyn is our nature child ... and loves indians! So she got a doll that looks just like her, with an indian regalia costume and cradle board to match. Claira got a new doll and doll stroller and had more fun sitting in the stroller than anything else. (we'll see how long it lasts!)
Thank you to everyone that came to make these beautiful girls feel special!

Little Miss Ebbeloo

Little Miss Ebbeloo,
Always snored and couldn't sleep too.
So Mom and Dad
Drove to the hospital pad,
And now she's all brand new!

Okay ... okay ... that was a little lame :) What can I say, I'm no Shel Silverstein. However, Little Miss Ebbeloo did go to the "hospital pad" to have her tonsils and adnoids removed yesterday. Since she was a small baby she has sounded "stuffy", and nights were often difficult because she had trouble breathing from her huge tonsils. The nurses as St. Francis Children's hospital were wonderful. When they checked her blood/oxygen levels (the little thing they put on the finger) they told her she was getting her "Princess Power"! She loved it, strangely that's all she remembers about the hospital :)
She had a little bit of a struggle at first, because she couldn't keep anything down. Once we were home she was up and busy, with energy enough to be a stinker! It's obvious she's more tired and doesn't feel quite herself yet, though. She's still swollen and in pain ... she doesn't eat or drink much, except popsicles, juice and water! We hope that, once she's healed, she will sleep better at night. Just think ... no more Evie lump in our bed!

Oklahoma Masonic Indian Degree Team

My Pappaw (pictured above, 4th from the left in back row) has been a Mason and a Shriner for as long as I can remember. This group of Masons, forming the Indian Degree Team, is the only group of its kind. They've traveled the world, including a trip to England last year, representing the Masons and their Indian Heritage.
Teej and Kiwi were given indian names by Pappaw and Mammaw in a naming ceremony. The custom is very old in some tribes ... there is a huge feast, and guests bring gifts to the child. Typically, the name is given on the 1st birthday. Teej's name is "Nitushi" (Young Bear) and Kiwi's is "Hushi Chuckmi" (Pretty Bird). Since Mammaw's death, he has been unable to do another naming ceremony.
I've always been proud to show off my very interesting, and very authentic grandfather ... Pappaw.

1st Day of "Snail"

Okay ... inside joke. LooLoo informed me a few days ago that I was NOT allowed to say the word that started with an "S" and ended with an "L", so I started calling it "Snail"! We started the day off with a family tradition ... breakfast at Braum's! Yummmmm . . . .
Teej started high school this year ... yes, I said HIGH school. UGH! I was 10 when I had him :) He is beginning a very busy time in his life. He is back in football after taking 3 years off. All summer he did Zebra Pride, a lifting and running camp ... he's hoping to be Wing for the offense. He's also playing the tuba for the Varsity Marching Band. He started out on the trombone from 5th thru 7th grade, then moved to bass guitar for the 8th grade Jazz band. In the Spring, he will be in Track instead of band so he can focus on his core classes since he's preparing for college. Not to mention Student Council, Honors classes and early morning Seminary starting Monday. Getting a picture out of him this morning was a fight! I threatened to walk him into school and take his picture in the commons area ... he finally succumbed.
Kiwi started JUNIOR HIGH today ... another UGH! She's grown up so much this summer, it amazes me. Junior High is a tough transition, going from 2 teachers to 7 different classes and teachers. She is also in the band, which will be Marching Band in the fall and Concert Band in the spring. She is taking a Youth Leadership course, which sounds like a lot of fun! It's sort of pre-StuCo, right up her alley. She's also starting pointe in Ballet in October ... I think she's more proud of that than anything else right now! (Yes, Mindy ... that is a jacket!)
LooLoo loves her new 6th grade teacher, because she's as spunky as she is! She is another musician in our family ... she plays percussion (bells, drums, bongos, her brother's head, etc.) in the Upper Elementary band. This is her second year and I think she plans to keep it up like her brother & sister. And yes, we are going for our own band :} LooLoo is one of our soccer players ... her team is the "Royal Pain" and will start up next month. Her best friend Abby was walking into school at the same time this morning, so we snagged her for a pic. Cute girls!
Maddette is a big-time 3rd grader this year. Her teacher is incredible and I am so excited for her teaching styles! 3rd grade is a busy year at her school ... they begin the year with a unit on Claremore history where she will do a report and model of the historical site she is assigned. They study Christmas around the world in December, and then a wax museum project in the spring (more on that later). Busy, busy! She will start soccer with LooLoo in another month ... she's quite the little athlete. Maddette is a leader in the classroom, and I know her teacher is excited too!
Ebbles will start preschool at MusikGarten ... a school that meets once a week with Mom, and encourages music in the home. It should be fun!

Uncle Roger Update

Roger has been in the CVICU for almost two weeks now. Since he was admitted he's been under sedation. Yesterday they lowered the amount and he woke up for the first time. He is still very out of it, and can't speak because he is on the ventilator ... however it's very encouraging to see signs of life! The kids made 2 posters for him that say "We Love You" and "Get Well Soon" with all 35 nieces and nephews signatures. The lab results recently showed that he has a rare disease contracted from the tick bite after biting a rabbit. Tularemia is also known as "rabbit fever". It has settled into his extremities and 4 of his fingers are turning black at the tips ... he may lose his fingers. Tomorrow the doctors will need to remove the ventilator and surgically place a tube directly into his throat as the tissue in his mouth and throat lining can begin to deteriorate. His body is tolerating lower levels of oxygen, however the vent is still doing 100% of the lung's work ... which means he will require this for a much longer time. His body is extremely swollen.
Having said all that ... it was great to see him look back! Our hopes are that he can hear us and understand what we're saying.

Uncle Roger

Tom's oldest brother was attacked by an infection (that is possibly from an insect bite) that spread throughout his body and became septic. Tuesday he was admitted to the hospital and immediately sedated, and even paralyzed, in order to aggressively fight the infection. His lungs were not working properly and his kidneys were failing. The family was told he would not make it if his oxygen levels did not increase within the first six hours. Gratefully, they did and he made it through the night. Tom's oldest sister happened to be visiting from California with her six children. She has been a strength to the family, and has led us through a family fast and reading from the scriptures to Roger. Even though he is heavily sedated we feel he can hear us, and hope he will know he is loved and fight to live. A brother has flown in from Alaska, another from San Diego with his newborn daughter and wife, and another will drive in with his family from Arkansas tomorrow. This means all 8 siblings will be together ... all in an effort to show their love for their brother.
This evening when we visited, he was showing signs of breathing on his own. He has a very long road ahead of him, and we hope there will be no long term effects on his body. He has a teenage daughter and a teenage son, who will be a senior in high school this year.
Please remember this dear Uncle in your prayers.

Camp Rock?

Well ... it was actually Camp Band! Kaylee just finished her first year at the the University of Arkansas Band Camp. A whole week of fun, rehearsal, activities, rehearsal, food, rehearsal, dancing, and oh yeah, rehearsal. She stayed in a real college dorm with her friend Lynzee and even ordered real college pizza! She had a great time, the only part she didn't like was ... the rehearsing. Friday Annie joined us as we drove to Fayetteville to listen to the grand finale as her band performed the music they'd been working on all week. (It was a long drive ... Tom needed to take out his frustrations on someone!) Her performance was amazing! On the last day she met a new LDS friend (yes, unfortunately it was the last day). They will see each other again soon, however, at the YW girls' camp because she is from Owasso. Good times.

Meanwhile, we were having our own "good times" ... we swapped kids so Chelsea spent the week in Arkansas with Graycie and Duckie came home with us! Aunt Mindy and her family are also visiting from California ... so we have more exciting stories to come!

Congratulations!

Kaylee and Chelsea both made Superintendent's Honor Roll (that's straight As)! Keep up the good work girls!

Big Fat Greek Wedding

Found this wedding photo on my cousin's facebook ... thought it was too cute not to share!

Happy Mother's Day . . .

... and thank you to all the mothers who bless my life daily with their examples. I am surrounded by women who strive to uplift themselves and those around them, admit their mistakes and find ways to learn from them, teach their children love and service, and above all are my dearest friends!
One more thought ... fourteen years ago I celebrated my first Mother's Day. The handsome young man that made that possible had his final band concert in junior high, and is now preparing for high school. He was ordained a teacher in the Aaronic priesthood today, and will be attending his first youth dance Saturday! You know we'll be there to embarrass him in every way we can.
(The pic is of Teej with his band teacher.)

Oh ... I Wub your Nails!

These two are becoming good friends!
Claira usually screams when Evie comes near because ... well ... Claira has a big bubble, and Evie is verrrry affectionate!
Today, however, was different ... they sat quietly together while Evie painted Claira's nails. At least for 2 whole minutes!

Happy 14th Birthday T.J.!

Enough already!

Okay ... I think we're all tired of seeing Evie passed out on the floor! I have been so busy with school work that I don't even have time to clean my house. Forget keeping up a blog! Here's a cute pic of Maddy and Claira playing at the park after this year's Heart Walk ... stare at that for awhile!

And the winner is …

Okay, Tom didn't win but he did get 2nd place People's Choice Award in the Annual Ward Chili Cook-off! The winners were decided by a popular vote (tickets in a jar) and Tom was 1 ticket away from winning. BTW ... Chelsea and T.J. forgot to vote ... we all know that means Tom actually won. We're still trying to decide if we're gonna let them live. (hee hee)

Fundraisers ... AAACK!

This is how we found Evie after the girls brought home their World's Finest Chocolate candy bar fundraisers from school! I dread these things ... mostly because I usually eat more than they sell!

Student of the Month . . . at the very least

Kaylee was honored as the January 2008 Central Upper Elementary Student of the Month ... Congratulations Kaylee!

To quote her teacher, Ms. Nees "You always have a smile no your sweet face, a positive attitude and kind words for those around you. You are a great role model for your classmates and peers. I admire your ability to make your own decisions and awesome choices. You are a sweetie and most definitely appreciated for the things that you do!"
I most emphatically agree! She is her own person ... she confidently makes her choices even though they're not always the most popular ones. She is a leader and an example to her family by reading her scriptures nightly and saying her prayers morning and night. (I'm telling ya folks, this one is raising herself!)
Kaylee is a talented musician while playing the clarinet in the 6th grade band and an avid dancer, with ballet being her heart and soul! (BTW ... those are ornaments she hung on her clarinet and in her hair.) She's the Beehive class President at church and is actively working on her Personal Progress. Two weeks ago she decided to "adopt a grandma" from one of the nursing homes behind our house. We discussed the information she needed and the questions she would need to ask the nurses before visiting anyone specific. Very courageously she and I walked to the nursing home and she explained her mission to the nurse. The activities nurse was contacted and a patient was selected. Her name is Helen and she loves to crochet. Now, 2 or 3 times a week she walks to the home and visits Helen. She brings her knitting and they work on projects together. Sunday Helen gave Kaylee a crocheted outfit for her Barbie. I hope she continues this relationship for a long time.

Halloween 2007