A sprained foot

Saturday afternoon the kids were in the backyard having a waterfight. Dominique was using a hose, and Dreyton and Jasmine had waterguns. They were running around having a good time until Jasmine was injured. Mom has told them repeatedly to not go down the slide wet because someone can get hurt. In St. Louis, our next door neighbor went down our slide (yes, we brought it with us to FL from MO) wet and broke the top of his foot. I looked out the window because I heard crying. I knew she was hurt because she had a very sad cry. Usually, when she is slightly hurt she gets angry and yells at whoever she thinks is at fault. This time she didn't move.



Donovan and I went outside to see what had happened. She was brought into the house and after a few hours of debate, Donovan took her to the emergency room. Well, the E.R. on a Saturday evening is not the nicest place to be. Donovan decided to come home and return the next day as it would have been the morning of the next day before the docs would have been able to see Jasmine anyways due to such a long wait. He figured he would have been in the E.R. all night if he had stayed. Jasmine kept us both up Saturday night. She cried due to pain, but we did give her motrin. Sunday morning we called a few urgent care centers in Gainesville, but the X-ray machines were down at two of the locations and the third one was not open on Sundays. So, Donovan decided to return to the dreaded E.R. Four hours later, it was determined that she did not break her foot but sprained it. She received crutches and a splint. I'm sure those crutches are going to be quite expensive. She was told to stay off of her foot for a few days. Today she has actually started putting a little weight on her foot. I don't think she'll being playing in her soccer game Saturday, but she will at least be walking with one crutch.

Easter/Baptism/Birthday

We were trying to decide which day would be best to hold Jasmine's baptism. Since the Lott's were planning on coming to Florida over the kids' spring break, we decided to have the baptism while they were all here. We were in Orlando all week, but drove home Saturday night. Sunday was Easter and my birthday, so Jasmine was feeling pretty special to have her big day too. It was a very busy day. We woke up, and the kids had to find their Easter baskets. Then they went outside to find some eggs grandma Peterson had hidden for them. Grandpa and Grandma Peterson flew into Gainesville Saturday evening. They patiently waited at the airport for a ride. Donovan and I left a little later than planned from Disneyworld, but my parents were still at the airport and ready come to our home.It was so nice to have the Lott's at our home too. Wayne made some shelves for me in my laundry room. He went to Home Depot with my dad, and they got all of the supplies. We painted the room gray, and it looks great. I now have some food storage shelves. Whenever Wayne comes to my house, I make him a list of to-do items. He actually asked for the list before I could give it to him. I think Donovan gets more excited than I do when his dad comes because it clears off his honey-do list (that tends to get longer and longer as he delays in completing a lot of the tasks). We had a hard time getting the kids to take a serious picture. The girls were being so silly.

It was fun to spend time with the Thomas girls. Jyllian and Meg got along most of the time. I guess as good as three and four year olds can get along. Meg and Jyllian love princesses and barbies. Kristen and I went shopping on Monday. Since our birthday is less than a week apart, we decided to take our birthday money and shop without kids. Grandma Lott watched the kids, and we were kid free (What a treat!). It's so nice not to chase the kids through the clothing racks at the stores as they play hide and seek. I talk on the phone to Kristen almost everyday, but it was nice to actually have her around. After everyone left on Tuesday, Jyllian wanted to know when they were coming back. I actually was wondering the same thing. We probably won't see them back in Florida for a long time. That makes me sad, but we will be able to see them in Utah this summer. My mom made me my favorite strawberry cheesecake for my birthday. She used to make it for me while I was growing up and living at her home. I haven't had this cheesecake in probably twelve years. I haven't lived in UT for almost thirteen years, and this was the first time my mom had been with me on my birthday in that long. I love my mom. She always made our birthdays special.

Disneyworld April 2009

Thank you, thank you, thank you! My mother-in-law (Anne) has been wanting to visit Disneyworld for quite some time now. Anne and Wayne brought their children and grandchildren to Disneyworld. They paid for everything (airfare, accomodations, food, and theme park tickets). This was definitely a once in a lifetime trip. Anne and Wayne are two of the most generous people you will ever meet. They do so much for their children.

The grandkids had a great time, and it was very nice to have all of the Lott cousins together. The kids enjoyed swimming and just hanging out together. I know my daughter Jasmine kept her cousins (Mattison and Isabel) awake at night. I kept hearing them giggle as they thought they were being so clever and sneaky.

Magic Kingdom- Day 1
We were all up and ready to hit the ground running as we began our Disney excursion. The kids were excited and wanting to ride, ride, ride. Below is a picture with Grandma and Grandpa Lott and all of the grandkids (excluding Jyllian). She wouldn't get in this picture. It has to be her idea to have her picture taken. Anne and Wayne have eight grandkids, and Karen is pregnant with their ninth. She is having a girl in July.

After riding splash mountain, I took a picture of some of the group. We got a little wet on this log ride, and the water felt good on the sunny Florida day. This picture is taken in front Cinderella's castle. The kids were getting tired and my feet were aching, but it was still easy to smile after Day 1. Hollywood Studios - Day 2
Day two we went into Hollywood studios. We were able to get a picture of the whole group. A nice gentleman took our picture. Toy Story Mania is one of my favorite rides. We were able to get fast passes, but they weren't good until after 6pm. When we returned, it was closed due to technical difficulties. It reopened about an hour later, but some didn't get to ride. I was very impressed to see Wayne and Anne ride the Tower of Terror, and they were brave enough to do it without any Depends too. It is quite the free fall. This is a playground in the park called Honey I Shrunk the Kids. I think all of the kids had a great time here. We spent a good hour in this playground. I was exhausted after chasing Jyllian. She is always on the go.Donovan was taking a break inside the playground. Doesn't he look nice in those shades?Dreyton was starting to run out of steam.These four were the life of the party! Donovan and Kristen are so crazy when they are together. But they just take after their animated mother (and her Herbert Hardnarkle adventures).While we were in line for the Toy Story ride, I took a picture. It is a 3-D ride, hence the cool looking eyeglasses.Jyllian can pose very well for her pictures when she wants to. She wanted me to take her picture. She lifted her leg in the picture. I'm not sure why. I guess she thought it would be a better picture. What do you think?I was trying to take a picture of the two of us together. Not such a good picture. I need to practice and get some good pictures. Kristen does this very well.Day 3- Animal Kingdom
Our first ride of the day was on a Safari ride. Everyone was able to ride in a jeep around the wild animal park. I think this was the favorite for the kids. We were able to see all kinds of animals that live in the wild. Here are Karen, Mike, and Ethan enjoying the ride.Me, Jyllian, and Dreyton posing for our picture.Kristen, Meg, Mattison, and Isabel were having a great time. Meg was sticking her tongue out at Donovan.Jasmine's got the look...we just aren't sure what that look will do for her.The three youngest wanted to ride Dinosaur, but they were too small. Maybe in a few years, they will reach my "towering stature." It looks like Meg will be able to ride it before Ethan and Jyllian.Jyllian playing the drums.Still Day 3 but we hopped over to the Epcot Center. They have free taste testing of some soda from around the world. There were some disgusting flavors, but a few of them were rather tasty. Jasmine obviously tried the one that is made to subdue the consumer. We were just about ready to leave the parks and head back to Gainesville. Jyllian was tired and did not want to be in the picture, but Grandma held onto her like a cowboy wrassling a steer to capture this precious moment on film.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Each year the Milam Funeral Home in Newberry, FL holds an easter egg hunt and other activities for free. It is a very generous act they do to help people celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Besides the tons of filled Easter eggs they provide for the kids' age seperated Easter egg hunt, they also provide food (donuts, cookies, hotdogs, popcorn, and drinks), horse carriage rides, petting zoo, train rides, a bounce house, and a fire truck all without charging a dime of the 500+ people who attend. This is our second year attending, and the kids had another great time this year. Jasmine and Morgan met up with a friend from school. Her name is Kaitlyn. The girls had a good time racing through the field trying to fill their baskets.

Jyllian was a little shy about picking up the eggs. But she did manage to get a few. The egg hunt is divided into groups. She was in the three and four-year-old group.

Morgan, Jasmine and Jyllian are trying to do some pull-ups from the back of the fire truck. Guess how many they mustered altogether?

The girls are petting the mama sheep and her baby lambs. There were chickens, rabbits, and goats too.

Jyllian would not have anything to do with the Easter Bunny. I guess I can't blame her. Kinda creepy to a 3 year-old, don't you think? Jasmine and Morgan stood in the picture without her.

The girls all had a good time on the train ride.

Dominique and Dreyton didn't come with us this year. I think they didn't want to be seen at a "Kid" activity. You know they are getting older, or so they tell me.

Since you last saw us....

I think there may be something in the water here lately as our children have begun to exhibit some unusual changes to their facial features. No matter. We still love them (even if we are the only ones who still do!).


Poor Dominique has been experiencing horrific nasal difficulties with the increased pollen in the air.

Dreyton has been consumed with the idea of replacing Jay Leno when Leno "retires" from his new show on prime-time.

Jasmine has been a little depressed lately, but she has found comfort and consolation in a new diet she has started (eating anything not nailed down!).