Ouch! That Hurt!

Well, last Wednesday I went to the dentist. Yes, the dentist. I really like my dentist, but I still hate going to the dentist. I do not have the best set of teeth. I inherited problem teeth thanks to my mother (I still love ya mom) and they only got worse with my two pregnancies.

Since before I was pregnant with Patterson, I have had a tooth that really should have been fixed. It was almost at needing a root canal at that point. Almost nine years later, I still have not had anything done with it. It has not pained me too much, and I have just learned not to eat sweet things on that side. But recently it has started to hurt, so I asked Dr. Bennett to pull it out. (Root canals are way too expensive, plus the tooth above it had already been pulled.)

First they fixed a cavity by the tooth to be pulled and then they took xrays. The xrays showed two of my roots curling away from each other and one root connected to my bone (another trait from my mother and her dad). It hurt soo bad and it took forever to pull out. My jaw still hurts, and my "hole". I do not suggest pulling teeth.

But I got my revenge. Not really, though. As I was leaving the parking lot, I backed right into Dr. Bennett's car. Ouch, that hurt even more.

Playing Tag

I may be weird, (actually I know I am) but I like these cute little tags. You really do learn a lot about other people with them and I even learn a few things about myself, because I take the time to reflect on myself. Don't think too poorly of me for my cluttered home.

The instructions state to take pictures of the following:

Activity I was doing before I got tagged. (Finishing Halloween Costumes)


Kitchen Sink (Oh, what a mess, and I already did dishes twice today)


Closet


Laundry Room


Fridge


Bathroom


Favorite Room (Daycare Playroom - It's fun and colorful)


Favorite Shoes (They've been in a few races)


What Your Kids Are Doing


Self Portrait (Sexy Mama, ha, ha)


THE RULES - NO CLEANING
NO STRAIGHTENING
NO WIPING KIDS NOSES
TAKE PICS RIGHT NOW
AND HAVE FUN!

Travis's Fly In To Three Forks.

To hear music that goes along with slideshow, pause other music at bottom of page.
(The song is one of Travis's new favorites cause he's a tree top flyer.)

First picture shown is our airplane, a 1946 Stinson. Isn't she beautiful? Corbin's dubbed her Snoopy because she has Snoopy decals on her. We purchased two plush Red Baron Aviator Snoopy dogs for in the plane. Corbin and Patterson slept with them every night for two weeks before we could get them away from them.

Yeah! It's October!

Last years Halloween, 2007.

I am just finishing up Halloween costumes for my boys. They both wanted to be army guys, but Patterson added a twist. He is a vampire army dude. The costumes were fairly simple to sew, but the collar on the shirt has definitely given me some problems. Its a good thing they're just costumes. But still, I don't think I have done that bad. I've enjoyed sewing them sew (so punny) much, that I went out and bought 20 patterns for making various clothes for myself and family. I may be overly ambitious, but the patterns were on sale for 99 cents. What a great deal.

We are looking forward to our neighbors annual Halloween party. We have been going for the past 6 years, and have a blast. They go all out, putting together a spook house for all their grandkids and friends kids. They are such wonderful people. They insist on our kids calling them grandma and papa. We really appreciate having such good neighbors and hope we can be half as good of neighbors to them, as they are to us.

Check back to see pictures of my boys all decked out in their army gear.

My "Quirky" Ways

What is quirkiness? Webster's describes it as a peculiarity, so I guess my first and biggest quirk is:

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I am proud of it. Doesn't it say that we are a peculiar people.

Second, and this is where I get really peculiar (ha, ha), I can't stand it when Travis sits in my chair at my desk. Even if I am not planning on sitting in it for a while. I don't know why it drives mad, but it does.

Third, I can't wear socks unless I am wearing shoes.

Fourth, I can't go to sleep in an unmade bed.

And fifth, I can't go to sleep on my back because I clench my eyes and it gives me a headache.

If you are reading this and you have not already been "tagged," you are it. It is your turn to list 5 quirky things about you.

The Health of Our Planet

I don't consider myself a "bunny hugger", a "granola eater" or whatever term enviornmentalists are called, but I do consider myself environmentally conscious. I think you have to be. We only have on earth, and we don't seem to be taking very good care of it. It makes me sad there is so much needless waste in the world. I love Women's Health Magazine (WH). They have several pages devoted to special reports.(health, fitness, nutrition, weight loss, sex and most recently a plantet report) They have short little tid bits about developments on each topic. WH has helped open my eyes to a lot of ways I can help make our world better. I have written an article on the effects of shark finning and boy did that open my eyes too. It is horrible. Now I am ranting. I just feel I need to do something to help our planet and set an example for our future generations. A children's book I read to Patterson called "The Stinking Story of Garbage" went through the different stages of the world and how garbage evovled from simple piles of bones and food scraps to the now mountains of garbage we have today. It also talked about what you could recycle. I made a commitment to try to recycle whatever I could. I now have piles of recyclables in the house and garage waiting each week to be taken to the appropriate places. It drives Travis crazy, but it has reduced the amount of things we throw away and I feel I am reducing our footprint on the world. I also have a scraps bucket for my compost heap. I enjoy the peace of mind I now have, knowing that I am making a small difference.

What a Splash!

In June, we bought a brand spanking new van in Kellogg, ID. The paperwork took forever,and by the time we were done, it was around 6:30 PM. SO not looking forward to a 3 1/2 hour drive back home with two bored, tired, cranky boys, we set out to find something fun to do. We came across an indoor water park, newly opened. Just one drawback, though. Only guests of the resort could use the waterpark. And it was $200 a night to stay. I had never paid that much for a hotel room before, and I just wasn't sure I wanted to start. But, then I stopped and thought about it. The room came with four free passes to the park for two days. In that light, the price wasn't too bad. So we decided to stay and we had sooo much fun. But our fun was cut short. Corbin had fallen asleep during dinner, without eating, which should have been a red flag, but I thought he was just tuckered out. He slept the entire way back to the hotel room in my arms and didn't wake up until 11:00 PM when he started to puke all over the beautiful hotel room. That was a long night. The next day he seemed fine, but Patterson and I both had queasy tummies. We decided to chance it and go back to the waterpark for some more fun, but had to stop after only half and hour of playing, when Patterson had to run to the bathroom to empty his stomach. We left shortly after and boy was it an unpleasant, winding road home. I managed to keep from upchucking, but poor Patterson sat in the back with towels all around the floor and a sick sack in his lap. And all this in my brand new van

We planned our little family vacation, back to the indoor waterpark in Kellogg. And this time around our experienc was so much better. The room we had last time was a beautiful little room with a mini kitchenette, but this time we went all out. We got a great deal on a one bedroom condo complete with a full kitchen, dining table and chairs, sitting room, fireplace, balcony, seperate bedroom, a washer and dryer, and a huge bathroom. And free passes to the waterpark for two days for only 180 bucks.

The Runner I Want To Be

In my illustrious running career (ha, ha) I have entered and participated in a 1 mile run, three 5K's (one in 12 degree weather), a 10k, a 12k trail run (it was brutal) and a 1/2 marathon, 13.2 miles (also brutal).

My mother, among many others, think I am crazy. I simply love to challenge myself and see what I can do. Last year, when I completed my first 10K in 62 minutes, I was thrilled. The quickest I had completed my training runs was around an hour, fifteen minutes. When the opportunity came this year to try a trail run, I was anxious to try it. I started out the race, my gut is twisting, as I puffed up the hill. Thinking "what have I got myself into" I crest the hill, and as I slowly warm up, I begin to pass others. "I can do this," I think. I don't remember what my time was, but after a dozen ascents (a total of 1700 feet)and descents, a huge sense of accomplishment washes over me. Friendly faces smile and shout encouragement as I cross the finish line. It took me two days to recover. My legs were not used to all the climbing.

When it was time to register for the Governor's Cup, I remembered my trail run and thought "If I can do that, I can do a half marathon." I did do it, but boy did I overestimate myself. I should have trained more. I finished in two hours, thirty minutes. Next year I'll do better.

My future goals are to complete a marathon next year and in the near future compete in the local triathalon.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my running experiences, but if I were to say there has been any negative, it is that my family has only been at the finish line once. I have such a huge feeling of euphoria when I see that finish line, and the only thing that would make my experiences better is the support of my husband and boys. Maybe next time.

Back To School

Patterson is off to school again. He is in the second grade. He is growing up way too fast. It doesn't seem like it has already been 7 1/2 years since he was born. Patterson's teacher this year is Mrs. Flemmings. He seems to be doing well in class, but I am afraid he may be a little depressed at times. When Travis goes to pick him up, sometimes he comes out running, jumping around like the exuberant 7 year old he is, but other days he'll come out with his backpack dragging behind him and a glum look on his face. This makes me worry. What does a 7 year old have to be depressed about, particularly this 7 year old. Depression does run in our family, but I am hesitant to put him on anything. I don't like using medicine, unless it is absolutely necessary and I have not found some natural supplement that works. When he started first grade, he was diagnosed as borderline ADHD. We chose not to put him on meds, and had him do behavioral therapy sessions instead. They helped, but he is still a difficult child at times. (Alot of the time). I just hope that we can get past him be sad. It breaks a mothers heart to hear "Mom, I am sad. Nobody would play with me today," or "Mom, I am sad and I don't know why, I just feel sad." I just tried to make sure I give him lots of hugs and kisses and tell him how much I love him. And what a darn cute young man he is.

Our Mini Additions

On Saturday, August 23rd, we got two mini horses. These horses were long awaited by both Travis & Patterson. We had not told Patterson that we were getting any yet and when Patterson's Grandma & Papa Danielson pulled into the driveway hauling a horse trailer he jus thought they were their horses. When we opened up the back he said "Those don't look like the same horses you have Papa."
"That's because they are ours." I told him.
The look on his face was priceless, and then he started to whoop and jump around. It was so cute. Travis told him he was going to have to help us with them, and Patterson agreed. He is now the official "pooper scooper" and he can't wait to get started.
Yesterday, I went out and cleaned their hooves, groomed and trimmed their mane and tail, and brushed them down. And guess what the first thing they did after I was done walking them? They rolled around in the dirt and got themselves filthier than they were in the first place. The stinkers.
Patterson and Corbin also got to ride Susie Q (the dark brown gruela). They thought it was awesome, until Susie Q decided she wanted to check out our other animals, especially Never Be Bacon, our potbelly pig. Then I had to take Corbin off because Susie wasn't minding very well.
Our other horse is a pinto and she has an F on her right side. We are undecided on what to call her. At the moment we are calling her Fancy. We feel it would be cool to find a name that starts with an F. If anyone has any suggestions please post your comments. Fancy is a little more skittish than Susie Q, but she is starting to come around. They are both used to being around children, so they are a great addition to our family.
My friend Kara and her kids came over yesterday and I wasn't quite sure what the horses were going to do. But they came right over and started poking their noses out through the fence, begging for pets and carrots. Her kids loved the horses and our other animals.
Both of our little mini's are a little tubby around the middle, so we are going to put them on an exercise program. I want to start taking them on walks, just like you would a dog. I plan to use them to help me train for my runs. It will help us both out. Yes, I am sure I will get some weird looks, as I run down the road leading a small horse, but everybody needs a good laugh.

Travis's Passion

Patterson and Travis are going on their first flight together. Just them. Patterson even got to fly the plane all by himself. Travis has had his private pilots license for about two years, getting it in August 2006. Almost a year ago we purchased a small plane. It is a 1946 Stinson 101-1 that has been completely restored. It is considered an antique and it is a beautiful plane, that Travis gets endless compliments on. It was a bit of a challenge to learn to fly for Travis when he first got it, but he has got it mastered now. Travis has been enjoying flying it this summer. Recently he went to Three Forks, MT to the Annual Montana Antique Airplane Association Fly In. He camped for two nights and had a great time. Currently, all the pictures of our Stinson is on our laptop, so I don't have access to them at this time. I will post some later.

Our fun and silly Past

I love to look at pictures and remember the fun, cute and silly times. Kids are great and I thoroughly enjoy mine. Hope you enjoy the slideshow. There's a lot more to come.

2008 Arlen Q Leavitt Family Reunion - AB, Canada

Fun In Canada

I had so much fun in Canada. Melissa and I left late Thursday afternoon from my house in Helena, MT, with our boys, Corbin, Patterson, Kyler and Steven, yes four of them. We got to the border only to sit for 1/2 an hour before we got through, finally making it to Lethbridge around 9:45 PM. We had to set up the tent in the light of a flashlight. That was fun. Friday we went to Writing on Stone and hiked through the Hoodoo's. (Native Indian dwellings carved out of the rock) Saturday we went to Cardston and saw a parade, then we were off to Waterton for lunch and an awesome hike, then over to Fort Mcleod to see the Foote side of our family, then finally back to Lethbridge. Sunday was taking down camp and heading home. Boy was I glad to get home. It was great to see family and meet family I had only heard about, but there is really no place like home. It was great and I look forward to the next reunion in two years in Seattle.

My first blog

I have been wanting to do a blog for a long time, so here it is. The thought that is foremost on my mind is how excited I am to finally be getting my book published. I am publishing it myself through lulu.com. I found a great illustrator and I absolutely love what she is doing. My book will be released around the beginning of October and I am thrilled. It's a twist on the old excuse "My dog ate my homework." Greta is finally getting her wish. Her very own pet. She has worked hard doing chores and keeping her homework done, but she makes the mistake of stopping at the pet store on her way to school. Through the funny twists and turns, we follow Greta as the pets she likes best, morph into a monster pet that eats her homework. Now what will she tell her teacher. Will Miss Garfield believe that A Piranha Cat Bird Ate Her Homework?