Two New Bear Cubs

I think both of our bear cubs are pretty cute. However, they are both fairly noisy and they cry a lot (sorry but it is true). But we love them both. Teague LOVES scouts. He was so excited to complete his Wolf (except the part where he had to give me a kiss at pack meeting - SO EMBARRASSING). He thinks we ought to complete all of the Bear book as fast as possible. We'll see how long that momentum lasts.

Our very own Quinn E Bear. She has mastered the growl. Happy or sad she uses that as her favorite way to communicate.

General Conference Packets

Once again this lady saves the day. She has updated her General Conference activity packet. Check it out here. Gavin's favorite part of the packet is cutting out all the ties. But, hey - whatever keeps him busy and relatively quiet. And hopefully - they get a little bit out of it as well. Can't wait for General Conference (April 4th and 5th).

You can also check out another General Conference packet here.

Family Motto

I would say that we are pretty out of control at our house. We all seem to be too short and irritated with each other. Everyone is bossy and there is way too much fighting, arguing, etc. It is driving me crazy. But, the truth is that I have probably added to that. Yesterday was especially bad. We went from laughing to crying to yelling in the matter of minutes - over and over and over.

So, when we finally sat down for dinner I decided to tell the kids about the funeral that I went to on Saturday. My cute great-aunt Nadine Cook (sister to my grandma Elaine Cannon) passed away and the funeral was held Saturday. I have always loved her and felt loved by her.


She has a large family full of beautiful, good people. I was always impressed that she even remembered who I was. She always had a smile and used the words darling, wonderful, or great. Always positive.

At the funeral, each of her children and a couple of grandchildren, spoke so lovingly of her. She was a great mother and grandmother. They talked about their family motto -

The Cook Family Has The Most Fun.

They described loving all their family activities and that the goal was always to have the most fun. I love that and I keep thinking about it. I don't think that is true in our house. I know it isn't. I hear about how NOT FUN we are every time I suggest a chore, homework, bedtime, or some other responsibility.

I told the kids about this motto. They got excited about the idea of a family motto but they also knew that this one did not yet apply to us. Teague quickly came up with:

Porters Always Fight.

That might be the current motto but I would like to come up with something that we can work towards. However, it did create a good laugh at dinner.

Do you have a family motto?

Kenyon Update

I set a goal this week to drastically limit my time online. It was a good thing because I really needed to spend any extra time focused on a different project this week (I have to teach Gospel Doctrine - eek). Because of that goal, the blog was neglected and I haven't updated everyone on Kenyon. Sorry about that.

Well, the good news is that he is definitely feeling better. There are still things to complain about. I wouldn't say that he is all better but we are so happy that he is improving. He has been trying to get out some walks with Quinn E. It is slow going but it is progress.

We do not have the biopsy results back yet but all seems to be looking better. Thanks for checking in with us.

Rex Lee Memorial Run

I did it! I have NEVER run a race, but today I completed my first 5K. I didn't run the whole way but I sure gave it my all. I can sort of see how this could be addicting. I definitely want to do it again so I can improve my time. I would really love to be able to run the whole way.

Egan and Kristine joined me in the run (aren't they cute?)- and they DID run the whole way. Egan did the 10K and beat me. We all ran in honor of Kenyon. It was so cool to run for cancer research with so many other people. I also loved running around BYU campus. It brought back lots of good memories. The only thing that I really hated - IT WAS COLD. My lungs hurt so bad.

Next year - I want you all to join me!

Home Again - Take 3

Well....do I dare say it? Kenyon is home from the hospital after another 2 week stay. We are happy - but I must say I am a little nervous. He is definitely feeling better in some ways but he is very weak. His blood counts are low so he goes in for a bone marrow biopsy tomorrow. The docs think it must be a med that is causing the drop but that is what the biopsy will determine. And so it goes.

And sorry about the lack of photos. He requested that I not post any pictures of him. Maybe in a few weeks if he is feeling stronger.

Kenyon Update

So the good news is that Kenyon got a haircut. I haven't seen it yet but pictures are coming. I wish I had been there to take pictures. It was SO LONG. It has never been cut. And it just keeps getting curly. Thank you SO MUCH to the Wrights for making his day.

The not so good news is that he has a yeast infection that required the central line to be removed. They put a pic line in this afternoon. That is kind of a pain but necessary. Kenyon says he is feeling better but the infection means yet another antibiotic. Hopefully it will work quickly.

She Couldn't Handle it

So it is Stake Conference weekend. I know for some people it is a week off of church. I actually like Stake Conference. However, our stake does not broadcast to other buildings so it means you have to get their EARLY to get a seat and you will still be on the hard chairs in the back.

The thought of going early, by myself with 4 kids caused a little panic. Remember my last experience at Stake Conference? Plus, the potential sickness all around me stresses me out with the baby. Then what happens if I have to go out with Quinn. Could the 3 kids handle being left alone? I don't think so. How would we survive? Would Quinn get sick? I am anxious for the threat of RSV to be gone. A couple more weeks, I hope. Anyway, I decided that we wouldn't go. We would have primary at home.

Primary actually went quite well. We spent a little over an hour doing Sunday Stations. The kids really liked it. Their favorite part was doing fun activities on the computer. It is new feature on the Friend Magazine site. Check it out. It is the perfect Sunday computer solution. I also had them write letters to Kenyon about visiting the Draper Temple. We also watched Nephi and Laban (from the Liken the Scriptures series). It was a pretty good Sabbath day, I think.

My sisters came over for dinner and asked about church. The kids quickly responded that we didn't go to church. Shock! Kristine asked why and Elise said, "My mom couldn't handle it." Nice! Really? I didn't mean for them to get that message. But, I suppose it is true.

But, I am so sad that I missed out on the messages of Stake Conference. Anyone take notes?

I did get to attend the adult session on Saturday night. We were taught about self-reliance, repentance, and missionary work. Plenty for me to work on!

A bunch of stuff

This week at preschool GCrew learned about March weather. Lion weather and Lamb weather. He made this cute little visual that he likes to show us. So yesterday when we woke up to the covering of snow, we had a breakfast discussion about if the snow was Lion or Lamb weather. Quite a difference of opinion.

As for the run - I am TOTALLY out of shape. It is killing me not to get to the gym. Wii Fit is fun but it is not cutting it. Anyway, last year a couple of Kenyon's family members participated in the Rex Lee Run in Provo. Rex Lee was president of BYU when I entered as a freshman. He died of cancer. There is a run every year in Provo to support cancer research at BYU. I thought it was so cool and touching that they would run with Kenyon in mind (and others that they know fighting cancer). I told myself last year that I would FOR SURE do that run. Yeah well, I kind of thought I would be prepared. I did a little search today and realized that the Rex Lee Run 5K/10K is NEXT WEEKEND. Shoot. That doesn't leave much prep time. But, I think I should do it anyway. A 5K - Anyone can do that, right? I might (quite likely) have to walk some of it (all of it) but that is ok. Anyone want to join me?

Today my sister Jane and I took the kids to the Draper Temple Open House. What a gorgeous temple! The kids were particularly interested in the crystals (or diamonds as they called them) on the chandeliers. I loved the Spirit and the furniture, fabric and Minerva Teichert paintings.

This is one of my favorites from the temple. It is not one that I was familiar with. It looked so beautiful. I WANT IT!
I really missed having Kenyon at the temple with us. I was sure that I was safe picking March 6th. I never would have thought he would be in the hospital. Hopefully, by June he will be able to join us at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House. It is such a cool thing that my kids have 2 opportunities to tour the temple.

Speaking of Kenyon - he is trying a new med and a small decrease in steroids. We'll see if that does that trick.

Maybe Not So Remarkable

I really don't know what to say anymore. Kenyon is not feeling all that "remarkably well". In fact, he says he is feeling exactly the same - which isn't good. He has some other docs reviewing xrays but they are taking their own sweet time. It feels like we are just wasting time trying different things and nothing is really working. Dang it. What he really wants is to stop taking all the antibiotics and steroids but that has some pretty serious risks as well. Who knows. I wish I had a degree in medicine so that I could understand all this a little better.

Quinn E is 4 Months Old

Remarkably Well

So the doctor said today that Kenyon is doing "remarkably well." That is such good news. It still a very slow healing process but they are pleased with how things look on the xrays. Today they let him have some broth and water. Yumm!

Gavin's prayer last night - "Please bless all the germs to go away and that no one gets sick again." Don't we wish that would happen.

Elise's prayer tonight - "I'm thankful for the doctors serving Dad." How nice. They have been great. Gavin loves that Kenyon's doc this week in the BMT unit is named Dr. Cao (pronounced cow). He thinks that is hilarious.