Has it really been that long....

since I last posted? I had such good intentions for posting more often this year. It seems like now that things are back to a normal routine, time passes too quickly and weeks go by without me stopping to write anything.

Let's see, this past week Asher came down with a really bad case of strep throat. He played in his basketball game on Tuesday, then threw up all night, and by the morning he couldn't even talk his throat was so swollen. I have honestly never seen him so sick, and that's saying a lot because he has been sick a lot in his lifetime. He couldn't talk, eat, drink, sit up, dress himself...he didn't move for about 36 hours straight. I really think if it wasn't for modern medicine he would have died--scary. The morning after he took his antibiotics, he was back to his normal, chatty, fact-flinging self and I was ready to send him back to school before the 24 hour quarantine time was over(but I didn't:0). So far no one else has come down with strep--knock on wood.

We found out Sydney won both Districts and Regions for her Reflections story. Now it goes on to State. Not bad for 15 minutes of work on her part! Yesterday was momentous--it was her first trip to the mall without parents. She and Berlyn hung out there for a few hours together and found some deals at Aeropostale. They both hated "Hot Topic" and say they are going to have nightmares about that store.

I can't think of much for Jonah lately. Apparently he and Gabe are concerned with choosing girlfriends and boyfriends for everyone. According to Natalie, Jonah's girlfriend is Ruby (3 year old cousin!), Gabe and Claire are hooking up, and, of course, Bridget and Jude have a prearranged marriage.

Funny story about Gabe and church...imagine that! Today Gabe told his primary teacher he had to "go potty" and ran into the men's bathroom so she couldn't go in after him. She stood outside the bathroom and kept calling in to see if he was okay. He kept calling back to say he was fine and that he was still going potty. After a while he came running out of the bathroom stark naked! No shoes, socks, shirt, pants, belt, underwear.....NOTHING!!!! There were many witnesses, let's just put it that way! Christy and Lisa had to chase him down and take him into the classroom to get him dressed. I guess the little sunbeam girls were aghast! What a guy!

Bridget had her picture taken by Staci this past week. I can't wait to see them. I'm glad we did them that day because she came down with a cold the next day. It's the dreaded month of February. We hope she will be the first of our five to make it through her first February without getting RSV.

Steve is sick now too with a fever and a cough. I sound like my grandparents--nothing to talk about except sicknesses. At least I'm not updating you on bowel movements...yet! Friday we went to Jimmy's birthday dinner...he has lots of friends and family and we had a good time. We had a good laugh about basketball. Oh, yes, I've been roped into playing on the church basketball team. After my Thursday game, Steve kindly told me that I need to stay back by the three point line because I am preventing Natalie (who can actually play basketball) from scoring! I told Jimmy (who played on the men's team with Steve) and Nat what Steve had said, so Jimmy asks Steve at dinner: "Relatively speaking, who did worse in their basketball games--me or Sara?" One of those lose/lose situations for Steve!!! He refused to answer! We're planning our Disney trip with the Slemboski's for March.

Today was our primary fast for the less active children in our ward. People keep asking me how it went, and I'm not sure. At least the kids had a chance to fast with a purpose, and that in itself is a good experience. I think they seem to be more aware of their friends and neighbors and have at least talked about what they can to to fellowship them.

Okay, at least I have written something to document our lives for the past few weeks. Now I'm going to go read! Goodnight!