January Potpourri for 300

100 ~ Kidney Stones

Congratulations to Chris Caviness, who passed a kidney stone in the early hours of the morning of January 30th, 2008. This stone (just one of twins) has been trying to come for a couple of months and has caused several days of pain and inconvenience over the last several weeks. It is the biggest stone yet that he has passed. It is very disgusting and will be kept in a medical jar until further notice.

The top stone is the largest one Chris passed several years ago. The bottom one is the stone he passed this morning. It is a good 7mm in length and about 5mm in height. Chris is really good at kidney stones!!!!

200 ~ Loose Tooth

Halle Ann Caviness just keeps on growing and getting bigger. At 5 1/2 years of age she has grown out of most of her school clothes purchased at the beginning of the school year. Plus, she has been introduced to the tooth fairy and really likes it. She lost her first tooth on January 9th, the day we left for Utah and enjoyed showing off the gap in her smile to everyone she came in contact with. She was also extremely excited that the tooth fairy came and left her some money.

Since the beginning of a wiggly tooth, Halle has had a plan to catch the tooth fairy. When asked why she wanted to do that, she replied that she wanted to catch the tooth fairy so she could steal her magic wand. Asked why she would do such a thing, she innocently responded that she needed a real magic wand that really worked so that she could make daddy feel better (from his bad fevers).

It was not long after that she lost tooth #2. She is a very good tooth wigglier but had mom give the final tug. Again, the tooth was collected and money left. But the tooth fairy is very elusive and Halle was not able to catch her yet again. Halle can't wait for another loose tooth.

Happily holding her lost tooth and getting excited for the tooth fairy to come.

Missing her two bottom front teeth and showing off a nice red cool-aid smile.

300 ~ Pull-Ups

There are no longer any pull-ups or diapers at my house!!!!!!!! Sean (the baby of the family) has been working on being potty trained for over a year now. He finally gets it!!!!!!!!!!!

It has been a catch22 lately. Sean keeps having accidents, so Lara keeps putting him in pull-ups (especially for preschool). But when he has pull-ups on he knows he can wee in his pants. And then when he has them off, he forgets he doesn't have them on and wees in his pants. So, finally we went cold turkey and cut out the pull ups (Lara has said she would do this the last 3 times we ran out of pull-ups but then went and bought some more). But when we ran out of pull-ups last week Lara bought no more.

Sean has been doing great!!!! Only one day time accident and he has had one successful night so far. We are hoping he will get the night time potty training fairly soon too. Can't believe there are no more babies at my house!

Sean practicing way back in April 2007, we thought he was going to be a fast learner. Just took another 9 months.

Gordon B. Hinckley

What creates a connection between different people? How much does it hurt when that connection is severed?

Many new him as their father, brother, uncle, grandfather, friend, acquaintance, mentor, co-worker, home teacher, etc. To the world (believe or not) he was the prophet of God. And whether you knew President Hinckley well or not I think everyone has felt some sadness and some loss of light at the news of his passing.

I didn't know president Hinckley's favorite color, or his favorite food, or what he liked to do with his grandkids; but I did get to know him through the fruit of his labor. I got to know the love and wisdom of a servant of God through his words and actions. He was a great man. A defender of the faith and pursuer of truth and righteousness.

I did have the chance to meet President Hinckley personally and shake his hands. He came to our mission (England, Manchester the same area where he had served many years before) for the ground breaking of the new Preston Temple. We had a special mission wide conference in which he presided. I was so nervous to actually be in the presence of an apostle (he was at the time the 1st counselor in the First Presidency).

While I did work hard on my mission and follow the rules and did my best - it was not the easiest thing for me to do. I was really shy and it physically hurt to go up to people on the street and ask "golden questions" and to knock on door after door after door. So I was feeling some guilt about not being a "good" missionary and thought that after he talked I would be feeling even worse. I was so surprised when his talk was so light and comical. I don't remember all that he said but I do remember him saying how we needed to have joy in our lives, to enjoy each moment, and have some FUN while we were serving as missionaries. Not what I expected to hear, but exactly what I needed to hear!!!!! I took everything so seriously and only focused on the negatives. It really helped me get more lost in the work as I tried to have more fun and focus on the positive.

At the end of the meeting we were all allowed to go up and shake his and Marjorie's hand. Again, I was so nervous to meet him. But as I finally got my chance to shake hands and look him in the eye all I could see was love. I have always imagined that this will be kind of the same experience when I get the chance to see the Savior again. Nervousness, not quite believing that it is really happening, flashes of sin and quilt, but then the feeling of love and the feeling that I can be forgiven, that I can be something better than what I am, that there is an eternity of hope and unending possibilities.

I will miss President Hinckley. A part of my heart is broken, an earthly connection broken, but I know it will mend with the calling of a new Prophet and also knowing that this is all part of the plan of salvation. That in order to move on death must happen. I'm sure President Hinckley is already busy at work in the spirit world continuing to testify of Heavenly Father and Christ. And I am sure he was embraced in love himself by the Savior and by his own loved ones who have been waiting for him to come.

Snow Dinner

A very snowy view.

29, 24, 20, 18, 12. What do these numbers represent? The numbers my dinner party went through. Because of the snow storm that came in it was one cancellation after another. So, after all that work and food preparation we ended up having my family (5), Herm and Jeraldine (2), John and Lisa Erickson (2), Chris' sister, Sherri (1), and Chris' cousin and spouse, Cindy and Lonnie (2) for a grand total of 12 people.

The dinning room set up for 13 adults.

On the positive side we did have a great time and LOTS of great food. And with all the cancellations it wasn't too squishy for everyone to sit down and eat. (Plus, I won't have to cook for a week now!)

The 7 who were able to make it.

We prayed that Jeff, Linda and kids would be able to make it over in the morning so they wouldn't miss church. The big event? Herm and Jeraldine speaking in church before they leave on their mission. Our prayers were sort of answered. Jeff and Linda were able to get out of their neighborhood this morning, but then church was cancelled. So, no talks now until February 10th.

Lonnie and Cindy brought gifts for Herm and Jeraldine.

On the positive, no one at church will have to see how abused my poor kids are (black eye, head bump, and bite marks in the cheek).

But, what was really fun, is when Chris finally returned from church (after getting stuck several times coming home) we had our own little church meeting. We sang the kids' favorite primary songs, reviewed what we learned last FHE (plan of salvation), read a story from the friend and then we all bore our testimonies. It was one of the best spiritual experiences I have had in a long time!

Chad had wanted to bear his testimony last testimony meeting at church but got too scared. So, it was great to give him a chance to do it in front of a small loving audience. Halle and Sean also did great - it is fun to hear their thoughts out loud. And Chris and I bore our testimonies. It has been a long time since I have expressed my testimony out loud and it felt so good to share it intimately with my husband and children. Who would have thought so much snow could be such a good thing.

Later we will be going over to Chris' parent's house to have lunch, take care of financial and home maintenance plans while they are away, have dinner, and then listen to their talks.

Team Caviness - out of action due to injuries

Many activities of Team Caviness have been put on hold due to the numerous injuries of all the team players. It has been an eventful week but we will go on.

On Sunday night, a little running around mixed with wrestling left Sean and Chad seeing stars after head butting each other. Sean with the hard head came out the victor needing only a kiss to help him feel better while Chad ended up with a black eye and needed lots and lots of sympathy plus a bag of ice to feel better.

On Monday Chris woke up with a bad back. Not sure how this injury happened. (Snow shoveling, piggy-bags with the kids, wrestling with the kids, bad bed mattress ???). He has been receiving multiple back massages and heating pads to the wounded area. But still, it is tough for him to bend and sit and get back up. He is starting to look like the old man of the team.

Tuesday must have been loud and eventful at Ferris Preschool. When I picked Sean up from school he had a bright red cheek. The high school student explained that Sean and another kid were fighting over a toy and the other kid decided to bite Sean. So now he has eight teeth marks on his face.

Sean may not act it, but he must be pretty sweet tasting as this is not the first time Sean has been bitten. He was also bitten pretty bad in nursery last year (in fact I think all of my kids have been bitten in nursery - must be the new hazing for toddlers).

Tuesday night brought pain to Lara as her mysterious stomach ailment hit (doctors have yet to figure out what is going on. The last info. is that is was her gall bladder - which is now removed - so hum, guess that it can't be the gall bladder any more). So she had to call in reinforcements to get Halle to gymnastics. The boys were banned to the basement. (Although Chad was a great help with bringing water and heating pads.)

And to finish off Tuesday night, Halle fell down the stairs and head first into the wall. Thank goodness it was bed time.

With some drug induced sleep I woke up better today (except for the cold I am fighting) and so far we have no new injuries. Hopefully we can keep being healthy and well - after all I have a dinner party to put on for 30 members of the Caviness family this weekend whether we are well or not.

On the Rocks?

Chad is into ice lately. Every drink needs ice. Sometimes he needs a drink just so he can have ice. What kind of ice does he like? "Crashed" of course.

We never have crushed ice at our house - but at my mother's house it is a must. Chad got into having crushed ice, but thought it was called "crashed" ice. So now he is always asking if he can have a cup of "crashed" ice.

Bottled Up Magic

Today was finally the day I was able to pack Christmas away. What is it about the tree and all the decorations that makes everything seem so magical? I love putting up Christmas and hate taking it down. My house is just my ordinary house again. I suppose all the anticipation building up for the next Christmas is what helps it to be so special. So, until next Christmas, the magic is all put away.

Back to the Monday Grind

I'm home again. Wanted to post pictures of the fun times we had - but it is already past my bedtime. I did get a photoshow done - so if you just can't wait then click here http://www.photoshow.com/watch/AP3Xv2XQ to see my photoshow.

Other than that I have unpacked suitcases, done laundry, done dishes, cleaned out the fridge, had Gabe over to play, packed away most of my Christmas decorations (yes, I am just getting to that), gave Chad and Halle their piano lessons, worked on homework, cooked dinner, had FHE, went through photos for Chad (star student of the week for his class) and cleaned up several of Sean's messes. And now I need to go to bed so that I can volunteer at the school tomorrow, head to gymnastics and then meet Chris and boys over at the Rubber Chicken game.