Please Lock Your Doors At Night

So this thing happened to me the other morning and it's been on my mind a lot since so I thought I'd blog about it. It was early Friday morning (the Friday that ended our week of sickness.) Gracie was still not feeling the best and she couldn't sleep. Kenny and I thought maybe it would help her settle down if she slept a little while with us. If you've ever slept with a 1 year old you know sleep is an understatement. I was able to get a little sleep, though not very soundly, for a few hours and around 4 in the morning I was awaken by the low sound of a car. At first I thought it was idling, but then I realized it was driving very slowly down our street towards our house.

The night before I had done my normal routine before going to bed. I turned the porch light off, locked the deadbolt, and checked on the kids. Everything was great, minus the sick kids and little sleep, until I heard that car. I was not quite all the way awake, therefore I wasn't thinking clearly, but as the car got closer to the house I heard someone turn the front doorknob. Because I had only locked the deadbolt, the knob was free to turn. I heard it turn and then pushing from outside the door, then they let go and tried again. I laid there frozen in bed, still not processing things as clearly as I could have and not knowing what to do.

My first thought was how grateful I was that I had locked the door the night before. There have been few nights when I've forgotten to lock the door and I was so grateful that was not one of those nights. I didn't want to wake Kenny up because I was just sure he would charge out trying to find out who it was and they'd shoot him (remember I wasn't thinking clearly.) However, as I lay there I knew I couldn't live with myself if they robbed one of my neighbors. I went outside into the garage where I had a clear view of the road and looked for them. I had heard the car drive slowly away, but I wanted to make sure it had left the neighborhood. It had, but I still wasn't content. I checked all the doors (our sliding door that leads to the backyard was unlocked and that scared me to death) and I checked all through the house. When I was sure we were safe I went back to bed. I didn't sleep, of course, I was too shook up, but I did go back to bed.

After discussing it with Kenny a few days later I realized I didn't react in the best way. I should have woken him up (when I'm thinking clearly I know he wouldn't run out at night chasing robbers.) It would have been good for him to be awake if they had managed to get in the house. He also may have been able to get a license plate number or something. I should have called the cops regardless of the fact that they didn't get in my house. I hate thinking that because I didn't call the cops they may have gotten in someones house and stolen something.

I've learned to always lock my doors at night, no matter what. We have a very narrow entry way leading to our front door and without the porch light on it get really dark. I've decided to pay the extra money and just keep the light on all night. It helps me sleep better. As I laid there frozen with my one year old on my stomach, listening to someone trying to break into my house that fear that only a mother can have swept over me. I'm so grateful my children are safe, that our house is safe, and that I was smart enough to lock my door. Though they probably wouldn't have gotten away with much, the fear of someone like that in your house is not a pleasant one.

So my tip to you all is to lock your doors at night. I live in little small Idaho Falls and I never thought something like this would happen to me. It can happen anywhere so no matter where you live take a few minutes every night and make sure your family is safely locked in your house.

A Week Of Sickness

I haven't really blogged in awhile because nothing has really happen and because last week was not a good week. It all started Sunday night when Hannah threw up. We had a day off and then everyone except Gracie and I took a day or night to be sick and throw up. Don't worry! Gracie and I didn't throw up, we just felt sick the entire week. Luckily it only lasted until about Friday and then everyone was feeling good enough to resume normal activities. Every time one kid gets sick I know we're in for many days of sickness. I guess that's what happens when you have a family as large as mine.

During our week of sickness Kenny told the kids he would let them watch movies in their beds. We don't allow TV in our kids room, but we thought, since everyone was feeling so sick, we'd make an exception. Kenny took the DVD players out of the car and hooked them up on the bunk beds. The kids thought it was great and it was a good way to get them to rest so they could feel better.

Dairy Farms Are NOT For Pregnant Women

The kids on the hay bales. (Minus 2 of Amy's boys)

On Wednesday the 5th I took the kids back to my friends dairy farm. We had some other friends in town, Scott and Jill Hobbs, who used to live in Virginia with us (they moved to Alabama a few month after we moved to Idaho.) Hobbs were in town visiting family and wanted to take their girls to the farm. We thought I would be a great chance to see them. Kenny stayed home sick so it was just me and the kids.

The kids had a blast and it was so fun seeing Jill and Scott. Being with them and Amy and her boys left me with such a comforting feeling. We haven't made many friends here and the friendships we've made are nowhere near the friendships we had in Virginia. Being with Virginia friends was so great and it had a feeling of home to it. I was so grateful to be invited and to be able to spend some time with them. It sure made me miss Virginia though. Well the friends anyway. Do you think all of Lake Ridge First ward can move to Idaho Falls?!

Scott, Ellie, and Sarah holding the kittens.

The kids enjoyed the farm very much, of course. The first thing they did when we arrived was chase after the kitty's, even Hannah who had been clawed by the cat before we left last time. They commented on how they'd gotten bigger since the last time we saw them. They remembered Hobbs right away and gave Ellie (4) and Audrey (2) a hug as soon as we arrived. It was fun to see Hannah and Audrey hug and wander around together. They were good friends in Virginia and seemed to remember each other. We fed the calves and climbed to the top of the hay barn. After playing on the hay bales a little the kids wanted to go in the milk barn.

Jill and Audrey feeding the calves.

Now I love farms as much as the next person. They're fun to look at animals, kids love them, they produce food and you can learn how that food is produced, but I just had to thank Kenny for not being a dairy farm telling him if he was we would probably only have 2 kids. I've always had a problem with the smell of milk when I'm pregnant, but this milk barn was WAY more than I could handle. There was no way I was going in there. Luckily for me the other adults took my kids and I stayed out in the cold with Gracie. If your pregnant, I advise you stay away from dairy farms.

Hannah and Audrey in the milk barn.

After seeing how we get milk, Amy took us to her brothers house. One of his pigs had just had baby piglet the day before and he was going to let the kids hold them. What a treat that was! The kids had a blast as those poor piglet were passed from little hand to little hand. It was so nice of them to let our kids have that experience. Pigs are so much cuter when they're babies.

Sarah Kate with her piglet.


I didn't get a good picture of Ben with the pigs, so this will have to do.

Hannah holding the black piglet. She loved those baby pigs.

Our New Playhouse

In order to try and organize our garage before winter, we built some new shelves on Saturday, November 1st. They were originally going to hold the fall decorations I posted about earlier and the other ones from other holidays and seasons that we end up buying, but instead Kenny came up with a great idea (my husband always has great ideas, this one is actually pretty good.) He thought the kids would love having a playhouse in the garage. So for about 10 extra dollars he built a ladder leading to the top shelf and a railing to go around the top. The kids absolutely love it. Ben wanted to spend the night there, but decided it was a little too noisy (the wind was blowing the garage door.) He did, however, eat his breakfast in the playhouse the next morning. It's gotten a lot of use from both our kids and their friends. I guess if we need more storage we'll have to build more shelves. But, if you ever want an inexpensive playhouse, here you go.

Our new shelves/bike storage/playhouse

Gracie loves the playhouse too. (She's not allowed up without Mom or Dad.)


Sarah Kate was in the shower so she didn't get to be in the pictures, but Ben and Hannah sure loved it.

Showing us how they could sleep in the playhouse.

#5 Is On Its Way

So the news is out. #5 is on it's way. Yes, we're expecting another baby. If this shocks you, your not alone. I was so surprised I screamed. What am I going to do with 5 kids? I've gone from absolute shock, to happy, to terrified, to overwhelmed, to whatever other emotion you can come up with. We're overall happy, but the shock still hasn't warn off. This little one is due the end of June so I'm about 6 weeks along. Kenny and I had been wondering if we were suppose to have another baby or not. We just didn't know. Most of the time it's hard for us to get pregnant (with Hannah I had to take drugs) so I guess God just thought that considering we were thinking about being done, he'd just give us one to show we weren't.

We're very grateful for the blessing of another baby in our family. The kids are excited, but Ben didn't understand how I could have a baby in my belly when I still have a baby (Gracie). When the shock wears off (if the shock wears off) I'll be delighted, but probably still scared. I'll be needing major tips from all you who have 5 or more kids. How do you do it?