Going to the Springs and Grandpa's

On Saturday, we were going to go to the Springs Preserve to get our new member cards, and then go to visit Grandpa Joe, who just got home from the hospital. As we were getting ready in the morning, Angelina came downstairs dressed exactly as shown above, and she announced herself ready to go. Notice the pink cell phone in her right hand.

The family got stuck for an long time at the Springs Preserve, as it seems to have taken forever just to get in and then to get membership cards.

It is amazing how something so simple as a little piece of paper and a pencil can preserve sanity. Angelina was about driving me crazy, running around, weaving in and out of people, until I found the aforementioned and she agreed to sit in her stroller.

We spent so much time at the Springs Preserve that we had to reschedule with Grandpa for later on that evening. We had to head back home, where Daddy spent all of the afternoon playing with Angelina, while Mom was at a Primary activity with Joshua, Allyse and Joseph.

We finally got over to see Grandpa, after he was in the hospital for what seemed like forever. Due to all of the sicknesses we had throughout the Christmas season, and then Grandpa's hospitalization, this was Benjamin's first chance to meet his great-grandfather.

Creative Kids Meet Camera

By the time I got home this afternoon, the kids were getting "creative." This is code for "they already did the usual things and now were trying different things." Angelina had me help her put on some earrings (not visible under all of that hair) and the matching tiara.

Lately I have been calling Allyse and Joseph the "Twins" as they are so close in height. They finally decided to do something about it. They both donned their Goynes Elementary hats, put on similar shirts and came running downstairs for me to look at them.

Josh was entertaining his Mini-Me for Mom while she was cooking dinner.
Talk about twins.

Of course, Angelina could not stand being left out of the photo session,
so she laid down by Benjmin to ensure that her likeness was recorded for posterity.

Cell Phone Fascination

Angelina is a true technophile: she loves technology and she knows that she can operate anything without the assistance of her loving Dad. I already can see the knock-down drag-outs that are coming over the remote control for the TV.

In the meantime, she has my cell phone to keep her occupied, particularly on Sunday when those boring High Council speakers come to visit. No sooner do we get settled in our seats than she starts searching my coat pockets for the cell phone so she can start looking at and taking pictures. The results are below, a few of which I took.

Tummy Time

This is Benjamin's first tummy time.

He was listing pretty bad, but he truly seemed to be enjoying himself.

Benjamin's Blessing Day

We were thankful that so much of our family trekked out north
for Benjamin's blessing day.

The Ballards

It was quite a spread back at the house, thanks to Kathleen and Julene.

Baby & Mom

The star of the show.

All of that sitting up wore him out.

Angelina keeping a watchful eye over her baby brother.
Thanks to Marleen for all of the great photos.

Daddy-Daughter Dance

Goynes Elementary held its annual Daddy-Daughter Dance tonight. Allyse was very excited as she got to dress up and go to a dance with Dad. However, not too long after we arrived at the dance, Allyse found her friend Megan, and then, for me, it was Billy Idol time ("Dancing With Myself"). I saw her occasionally -- always smiling and bouncing around with her friend -- while I chatted with Megan's father. I feel like I just got a taste of things to come when she reaches her teens.

Julene's Lithotripsy

As you might know, Julene has been having kidney stone problems again. At first, she thought she was having trouble passing a stone. However, when she had imaging done, it showed one very large stone and a slightly smaller stone in her right kidney, neither of which had even a prayer of passing, as they were both so large. The solution – lithotripsy.

In extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), shock waves pass through your skin, until they hit the kidney stones, which break down into small, sand-like pieces and pass out through the urinary tract. It typically takes a few days of recovery. Some complications are possible – blood in the urine after the treatment and brusing are very common. Some have described the after effects as feeling like you suffered a series of kidney punches.

Julene underwent lithotripsy today at a local surgical center. Naturally, Julene is feeling pretty achy about now, but she seems relieved to just be done with the procedure. We have been very fortunate to have great help from the Grandmas watching the kids and from our ward bringing meals.

On top of it all, Benjamin started a fever and a cold today. He has been uncharacteristically unhappy, which is obviously indicative of how rotten he feels. I feel like we are recycling the last few months. This, too, will pass (I hope).