Last Monday, three of the four kids weren't feeling well so I took everyone to the doctor. Liv had yet another ear infection, and Burke had strep. Things weren't looking good for our planned trip to California. When Hewitt was diagnosed with strep on Tuesday (the day we had planned to leave), we decided that it was probably best to not go at all. Needless to say that the kids and their cousins were very disappointed. On Wednesday morning though, everyone woke with dry noses and were feeling great (Hewitt said, "My throat feels great today!"). Since all four kids had been on antibiotics for over 24 hours, we felt good about going after all. We literally threw clothes in some bags and took off under an hour after deciding to make the trip.
The trip (there and back) was fairly eventful actually. The trip in theory (according to Yahoo maps) should take 9.5-10 hours. It took us about 11 and 1/2 hours both ways, thanks to road construction, the worst snow storm we've ever driven in (on our way there), and the craziest wind and dust storm I've ever seen in my life (on the way home)! It was really interesting to have snow storms both ways. We weren't really expecting that in California. The kids did really great even though Liv only napped for 20 min. TOTAL on the drive there, and for only about 5 minutes total on the way home. Seriously? That makes a long 12 hours with a one-year-old. That girl is normally an excellent napper and sleeper. I guess she just has to be in her crib to do it.
We had so much fun at my brother's house and were so glad we decided to go after all. In our rush to get out of the house I didn't even grab a camera, but swiped some highlights from my brother's camera.
First of all, we were able to do some projects thanks to Todd and his tools. Todd helped Burke and Rob with Burke's first pinewood derby car which turned out great. Burke designed the shape by himself and loved using the drill press, sander, spray painting it, etc. He looked so cute in his safety goggles.
(I'll post photos of the finished product when it is actually time to race it...)
In true "Dunning" fashion, Todd and I took a trip to Lowes and he helped me make two coat hook boards to go in our closet under our staircase. Todd did most of the work I must admit, but I did use the drill press and measuring tape :).
Our visit was nice and we mostly just hung out and let the kids play. It was great being in a home where the kids are just as noisy, I mean energetic, as ours! It was a total party.
Liv loved all of the attention from her older cousins. We have realized this week that she says "baa" for "thank you," as she says it every time we hand her something. I realize it sounds nothing like the actual word, but it is consistent and very polite sounding. I've been trying to get her to say "please" or any "ee" word for a while and she has finally started to make the sound a bit. Mostly she acts like she is smiling and saying "cheese" like her photo is going to be taken. Tracey caught this photo of her right when my nephew said, "Say please, Liv."
It's been a long time since we've been hosted overnight at someone else's home (I'm used to doing the hosting lately), and it was really nice to relax a bit and do lots of visiting and some reading too (I just finished the second Harry Potter and am hoping to start book three tonight that Burke is just finishing up...). I really miss living by Todd and Tracey and it was fun to play games at night, chill with a movie, and even go dancing at a New Year's Eve party on the 31st. The band at the dance was a classic rock band that looked and sounded like they hadn't played together in over 20 years, but it was a fun time. I think we'd all forgotten how uninhibited Rob is on the dance floor. :)
Thanks again, Dunnings. We are so glad the trip worked out! The kids were sad to leave and we miss you already.
She didn't cry very much (unlike the child on the other side of the curtain), but got really fussy while we were leaving and cried the entire drive home. I held her for about an hour after we were home. By lunch time she seemed to be back to her usual, busy, silly self. 
We love you, sweet Liv.
I took her to the Ears, Nose, Throat doctor because of her long history of ear infections. Liv will be getting tubes :(. The doctor is concerned about the amount of infections she's had, the seemingly constant fluid in her ears and the fact that her speech is delayed. This is our first child to ever get tubes or first child to need to "go under" for any reason at all as a matter of fact. It's a bit scary, even though I know that this is very routine and safe (and simple) procedure. It is interesting to me that Liv has such a problem with ear infections, yet she is the only one of our kids that was 100% breastfed and never ever ever once took a bottle.
(One of my Young Women grabbed my camera and took this shot of us congratulating Burke after he pinned on my "Mother's Pin.")
I feel like I'm probably hard on Burke a lot of the time. I expect so much from him and I know that he is capable of really great things. He really is one awesome kid, and I am so grateful to be his mom. I am constantly learning from him and I appreciate his patience with me. I love you, Burke. Keep up the great work! 
My brother and sister-in-law sent some Halloween costumes home with us that my brother and I wore when we were kids (I'm sure that my mom made both of these). Tosh and Hewitt had fun trying them on and running around in them one night:
and Alisa playing a game with the kids:
I've been able to get pretty organized this week (house, new monthly dinner schedule, completing projects, back in my exercise routine, etc.). Let's hope I can keep it going. Soccer has started back up again as well as cub scouts and running club. I'm hoping that staying busy can overcome the "blah" that is usually synonymous with January. 
