Just in case you didn't know...

https://www.dtv2009.gov/

DTV Transition and the Coupon Program

What is the digital television transition?

At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting promises to provide a clearer picture and more programming options and will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders.

What is the TV Converter Box Coupon Program?

Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.

A TV connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service does not require a TV converter box from this program.

Consumers have a variety of options. Options to explore include:

1. Keep your existing analog TV and purchase a TV converter box. A converter box plugs into your TV and will keep it working after Feb. 17, 2009, or
2. Connect to cable, satellite or other pay service, or
3. Purchase a television with a digital tuner.

Have more questions? Visit our FAQs for more information!

Not sure if you need a Converter Box? Click Next.

Oh Happy Day!!

This week has just been incredible for my family! Long awaited events have finally taken place and such happiness fills me.

Meet Sofia Grace Sherry born Monday, Feb. 25th at 1:13 pm. My brother Matt and my sister-in-law Jessica have been going through the adoption process for some time now. I just love how there are so many ways that a family can be created. Sofia is one lucky girl to be raised in such a loving home! I can't wait to meet her in April when Birch and I go for a Utah visit. She is just beautiful! This is my littlest brother Luke. He just celebrated his 20th birthday and gave us all the best present of all -- a surprise mission call. Luke is a unique kid (can you tell by the picture?--I'm not sure he has the capability of a "normal" picture), full of love for all, non-judgmental, always ready for an adventure, resourceful, and my kids just LOVE spending time with him. He will be serving a mission in Paris, France for two years for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His love for people is going to make him one terrific missionary!!

So I am sure you can see why I couldn't stop smiling this week!

In-house "Bob The Builder"

While I was off buying new carseats for two of the kids in preparation for buying a new car this spring to fit our ever expanding family (we currently have two built-in car seats), Birch was home being ultra productive. He has been itchin' to build shelves in the downstairs shop for sometime now. One trip to Home Depot and seven hours later we now have some great sturdy shelves for storing our wheat, rice, oatmeal, etc... I'm sure the rest of the shelves will fill with stuff soon. Now we have to find another good wall for hanging up all our shovels, rakes, and other yard equipment.

Sure is great being married to Bob the Builder!

21 weeks down...

The view from up here... of down there
The evergrowing belly!
(Not sure why my hand is in a fist...perhaps it was that I waited until the evening to take this picture and I was freezing. As you know, mommy doesn't do well in the temperatures below 5o degrees.)

Ditto's Pharmacy

Since this is our family journal/scrapbook I would be totally missing out on recording what we have all been doing the past two weeks. It all started with Tyler, a fever, a bad cough, and several days of missed school. From there the lovin' was shared with Nate, Coop, and Alex. Then Alysee decided that she was feeling left out so she added ear infections to the mix of fevers and respiratory junk. Three times a day the Ditto Pharmacy was openCoop got the respiratory junk the worst out of all the kids. He had kind of a pneumonia/croup mix that made life especially fun for about eight days. His behavior was the WORST it has been since his colicky infancy days. He literally would cry a majority of the day while everyone would try and cater to him.Coop was a good sport smokin' his peace pipe (A.K.A. nebulizer breathing treatments). A couple of days ago his smile and fun personality finally came back. What a joyous day for all!!

The most memorable events of the week would be the three doctor's appointments with all five children. Oh wait, it gets better. As a side effect to all the medicines that Cooper is on his bowels seem to be working overboard and he has had bad diarrhea. It seems to hit just as we walk into the doctor's office. The second time this occurred I happened to be all out of spare diapers in the car. I left Alex and Tyler at the doctor's office and then took the other three kids to the nearby Walgreens to buy an emergency pack of diapers. As I was carrying Cooper into the store I noticed that my arm was getting wet by the diaper that was now leaking down his legs. After I paid for the diapers we headed back out to the car where I stripped down Cooper to find that not only were his overalls contaminated but also his shirt and onesee. Seeing that I have five children I don't have room in the car for extra outfits so that left Cooper with nothing to wear. All I could find on the bottom of the car floor was Nate's coat. So I cleaned Coop up the best I could and then zipped up the coat around his chilly body. Next we drove back to the doctor's office and I carried Cooper in with a blanket wrapped around his bare legs and washed myself up. We made it back just in time for Alex's doctor's appointment, which I am sure you can all imagine is really fun to attend with five little kids. I could stop whinning there but I would be lying if I didn't add how fun it was to hangout at the pharmacy's several times this week waiting to fill a plethora of prescriptions.

Okay, I am just about done. To top of the week, the most disappointing thing was not being able to go on our trip to Oregon to meet our newest nephew, his mommy and daddy and Ami and Poppi. We just didn't was to risk anyone else being a recipient of the what we call THE NASTY!!

We are all on the mend now. Gratefully, I just got a very minor manageable version of THE NASTY. Coop is smiling, everyone is again sleeping all night, back at school, and the coughs are diminishing. We sure are all grateful for healthy bodies!

Still Crazy After All These Years

Seems like all my energy for holidays is often centered around the children. But who am I kidding...it all starts and ends with my LOVER!!

July 1996 - not engaged but fully twiterpated
May 2007 - 11 years later and deeply in love
Here's to an eternity of lovin'

Rite of Passage

Tyler has finally entered adulthood...well, at least he did just lose his first tooth. He had been working very hard and wiggling it every day during school and last Friday he came home and was ready to pop that thing out.

Only problem was that the tooth didn't seem to want to come out. In my family my mom was always the one who "just wanted to check and see how loose the tooth" was...and then ended up giving it a good twist and out it would come. I tried to be all manly and pull it out but I just didn't have the heart (or maybe the muscles). By the time Birch came home from work Tyler was ready for some more pain and let Birch pull and twist but to no avail.
Finally I did check out the damage and I mean I barely touched the tooth and it FELL out. Tyler was so happy!!!Isn't he one handsome kid?!!! I think the other bottom front tooth will be on it's way out this next week.

On a side note: We have a LOSER tooth fairy assigned to our house! Growing up the tooth fairy was never late in rewarding the child that lost the tooth. At our house, though, she seems to be always at least one day late but once never even made an appearance. Anyone know how to put in a change of house assignments?

Our Pacifist Child...or not

The first Sunday of every month Birch has a "PPI" with the kids. This stems back to several years ago when Birch's volunteer position in our church involved looking over the welfare of many of the men and their families in our congregation. Monthly Birch would do a "PPI" or interview with these men. In our family we have found this to be a great way for the kids to have some one-on-one time with their daddy, and for each to talk about school, cub scouts, troubles they are having, their favorite friends, etc... Did I mention that when their PPI is finished they get to have a piece of candy? Maybe this is why they ask if it is "PPI Sunday" almost every week.

Here is part of Birch's conversation with Nathan during their PPI this past Sunday:

Dad: Is there anything you want to talk about?

Nate: I like mowing the lawn with you.

Dad: I like mowing the lawn with you, too. Pretty soon we'll get to do it again.

Nate: That would be cool if our lawnmower had four things that shoot fire out, and bombs, and Christmas stuff.

Dad: That would be cool.

All in a day's work

What does someone that is just twenty-one months old do all day for work? Cooper has found a plethora of ways to stay busy (and keep mom busy). He is at that perfect age where he is just the cutest thing one minute and then doing something that would drive me crazy the next minute. I have not wanted to photo document too many of these things in fear that it might reaffirm his actions.

How can mommy take a picture of a boy sucking on a tube of toothpaste while rubbing lotion all over his hair?

Would it be appropriate to take a picture of a boy standing on the outside edge of his highchair tray looking for the quickest way down?

How can mommy take a picture of a boy on top of the dining room table swinging on the chandelier?

Or should a mommy take a picture of a boy who pushed the dining room chair over to the window sill and then climbed into the chair and then onto the window ledge to get a better glimpse of his daddy and brothers sledding?
How can mommy take a picture of a cute boy dumping out all his drawers in order to find the perfect Sunday outfit?
Is it bad that mommy took a picture of a boy that dumped out two boxes of cereal and then sat in the middle enjoying the cocoa crispies while reading a book about Noah's Ark (in Portuguese)?
Is is bad that mommy took a picture of Coop after coming home from the ER Saturday night?
You might even think it is more disturbing that his responsible parents don't even really know how Coop got the bloody gash on his forehead. The other kids think he ran into the door jamb. Coop was such a brave boy at the ER. He never cried once after we cleaned the blood off of his face, in his eyes, and hair. I'd be lying if I didn't share that I was a bit bugged with myself after I learned that all they were going to do is super glue his head together. Last year I successfully glue his forehead together when he fell out of high chair. Honestly I am glad that we took him into the ER so I won't feel so bad with the scar that he is left with or in case something more needed to happen. But I would love to get my hands on a big gallon container of that numbing gel that Birch applied to his gash in the ER prior to the super glue action. You know...just in case we need it in the future.
So how could you not love a kid that is just so dang cute? Messes, injuries, ridiculous hospital bills, and lots of hugs and kisses!!!

Tribute to President Hinckley