What we have been doing.

So the second weekend in September we went up to
Idaho to visit my parents and to see Kaiden get baptized.
We have not been to Idaho in a very long, long time. It was quite nice to visit with Grandma and Grandpa. Nick and Nate are both still praying that we will go visit Idaho again soon.

On Labor Day our family took the opportunity to visit Antelope Island, the largest island in the Great Salt Lake. The state keeps a herd of bison here. We have never taken the kids out here before. It was a nice enjoyable little trip. We took a small hike to enjoy the view of the Salt Lake. Later we visited the Fielding Garr ranch, an orginal settlement on the island. Nick was very curious why someone would leave all those old things there.

Nate took this picture.

Nick took this picture.

So in the meantime, we have been very busy. I am officially a soccer mom now. Nick and Nate are both playing soccer. Nick's team has had many games and practices once a week. Nate's team only has four games and doesn't practice. Thank Goodness! Nathan is not sure he wants to play and has refused to participate so far. I don't think I will waste my money next year. However, Nick is loving soccer. At his last game, he scored 2 goals. Unfortunatly I missed them as I was unable to attend because Nathan was sick.

Nick has finally mastered the art of riding a bicycle. Many of the kids in the neighborhood are able to ride a two wheeler and Nick hasn't been able to. Finally, we bought a small bike for Nathan that Nick was able to learn to balance on, and now that he has seen that he can do it and has some confidence; he is angry because I won't let him practice riding for five hours a day.

Porfirio has been on a fasting diet of sorts lately and has lost about 30 pounds. He is looking really good and feels very happy. I have been a little jealous, but this has motivated me to start moving my big butt and get the baby fat off. I am starting to work out daily and watch my diet. I am determined that I will lose the weight and be able to fit into my prebaby clothes by Christmas. However, this has added and extra hour and a half into my routine that I am having a hard time managing as it is. But I have finally made this a priority. So I have lost nearly 10 pounds in three weeks. Yeah! I will get there!

Anyhow that is what we have been up to. I hope to get picts of Nick riding his bike and soccer soon.

A few more pictures

Nick breaking the pinata at his birthday party. He was sure that he was going to break it open.

Also Nathan the pirate with a few of his cousins at Nicks party.

This is Nick and Nate riding the ponies at the Davis County Fair. They love riding the horse.

Nathan chilling out playing with Micah's airplane and later with cousin Isaac pushing him on the swing. Now, only if Isaac would come push him all of the time.

I know it's been a while.

Summer has been crazy busy, but we have sure had fun. My family had a reunion here in Utah at the end of July. We enjoyed playing with our cousins from all over the country. It is nice to have my kids recognize their Long cousins now. We miss having all of you here close by. We love you.

Nick just celebrated his fifth birthday. I can not believe it has already been five years. Wow, does time fly!

Nick had his first soccer practice on Tuesday. I guess that makes it official that I am a soccer mom now. Nathan will have his first game next week as well.

Kevin is growing up so fast. He has two teeth now and is doing a version of the army crawl. I am sure that it won't be too much longer before I have another mobile child. Can't wait?!

Well here are a few pictures I thought you might enjoy.

Thanks to LaceyHansen photography for the first two pictures. I will try to publish some more pictures soon.

Okay, I know that it has been forever since I blogged. We are doing so much better and over the swine flu. It only took two weeks. And we did not spread it as so many of our neighbors and friends did. Don't worry, those of you travelling to Utah, the swine flu epidemic has died down.

We have been very busy, crazy busy into the summer swing of things. We enjoyed fireworks, picnics, and even our first family camping trip. My boys loved it. We went to Bear Lake. We stayed at the local Koa as I didn't want to go too primitive with the baby. We got to our campsite at 7:30 p.m. and had enough time to set up camp and eat before a fast moving lighting storm rolled through. We piled into the van and watched. Twenty minutes later we surveyed the damage. We lost the cooler lid, but we retrieved it, and a small leak in the tent from the wind, not much worse for the wear. Mom and Dad had a long night but the boys really loved it.

The next day we headed to the lake. We enjoyed ourselves there, but at about 3:00 p.m., we had a microburst wind that picked up our canopy and blew it down the beach and destroyed it. It was brand new. Oh well.

Some things I learned.

1. Way too much work for overnight.

2. You can be too hot camping.

3. You may start a camping hobby by taking daddy and boys camping for the first time.

A Pandemic Statistic

Utah is the most active state in the nation for the spread of the swine flu. We are only behind New York in the number of deaths from the flu. Doctors here are not even testing for the flu unless you end up being hospitalized because there is so much of it. They estimate that over 10,000 people in the state of Utah have had the flue already. Doctors don't think there will be much of a need to vaccinate for the swine flu here as everyone will already have contracted the disease.
Well add my family to those numbers. My kids started swimming lessons two weeks ago, where they contracted the disease. They immediately passed it on to all members of our family. Fortunately, Nick and Nate, and Daddy were able to be treated with tamiflu. Unfortunately, I didn't get to the doctor soon enough to benefit from the tamiflu and just had to suffer the full course of the flu. Kevin is the one we are most worried about. He is too young for tamiflu and is taking some antibiotics just to help, however he is suffering the most. He isn't so sick he needs to be in the hospital, but pray that will remain the case. We hope is young body is able to get him over the worst soon. Pray for him.
Unfortunately, we had to forfeit swimming lessons and came away with the swine flu and a hefty pharmacy bill.
Thanks to our city residents for staying home when they are sick. We appreciate it.