The bottom four photos are of the awesome mohawks I gave the boys last Sunday. I took their photo and then finished buzzing them off. Except for Corben. He begged me to let him keep his, and since he knows the best way to get what he wants is to argue with me until I'm exhausted, I relented. I told him he could keep it for a week. He's already sick of it because he can't get it to stand up, plus he hates using gel (as you can tell from the photos, he thinks he's really hilarious).

The top picture is of poor little Zacky. I think he looks more pathetic than Lance with his broken arm! He fell off of his friend's bike tonight. Again, THANK GOODNESS FOR HUSBANDS! Jeremy got to Zack first, and when I realized what was going on I covered my eyes. Covered my eyes, people! Are you kidding?! I waited until Jeremy got him all cleaned up and assessed if he needed stitches or anything before I dared look at him. I mean, I'm the mother of six boys. I can't believe anything can still phase me!

So I wanted to tell you about my evening yesterday, because it's pretty comical (in hindsight), and I bet you've all been in a similar situation. It begins with our clothes dryer breaking down on Monday. Bad, bad news with a big family most of whom change their outfit five times per day. So by yesterday I desperately needed to get some laundry done. I teach an exercise class at my gym on Wednesday nights, so I thought I'd combine that with a trip to my dad's to put a load of clothes into his dryer (I debated posting about this. Now he'll know it was my kids this time, and not Kira's, who trashed his house). Leaving my house in a hurry like I usually do I grabbed my exercise shoes and threw them in the van and drove in my socks. When we got to my dad's the three little kids were sleeping, so I left them in the van with Corben watching them while I ran in to put the clothes in the dryer. Since I was leaving all the van doors open I just hid my keys in the van (I ALWAYS forget where I leave them when I'm at someone's house, so this makes it easier). While I was inside, Lance was fiddling with the van's buttons (I found this out later). So I got the twins into the house, went back out, got the sleeping Zack, and pushed the button to automatically shut the sliding door. As it clicks shut, I hear it lock. Oh. Crap. So basically I have twenty minutes until my class starts, my ipod with my class music, as well as my WORKOUT SHOES!!! are locked in the van. I ran over to Gayla's to see if she could run me to the gym. She wasn't home. So I called Kira and THANKFULLY caught her as she was on her way to my class. So she sped over to pick me up, following behind the world's slowest drivers, of course. Well, none of this solves the problem of the fact that I have no shoes on. I am racking my brain. Well, here's what I came up with. I am soooooo embarrassed to tell you. And again, I debated on posting this because my dad will be so disturbed on so many levels about this information. I wore my dad's Nikes. Thankfully (in this instance only) I have always had huge feet and my dad has (sorry) petite feet. So they were only slightly too big. But still!! I mean, sick (for him)! So I was only like three minutes late to my class, and luckily I had the foresight to KNOW something like this would happen someday and I put my exercise class music on Kira's ipod, so I was able to use that. Jeremy picked me up from the gym and took me to unlock the van. All's well that ends well!

Alright, Gayla and Jenny.  I DON"T want to hear I told you so.  I couldn't be more devastated than I already am.  Our dog went to a new home last Sunday.  I SO could not handle having a dog.  I really, really wish I could have.  Poor Corben sobbed for hours.  I've been distraught all week about it, and today I made Jeremy call the people who bought him and ask if we could come see him.  They are so sweet and had no problem with it.  So the kids and I picked Jeremy up from work and we hauled on up to Draper to see Sawyer (now called Tucker).  We couldn't be more pleased about his new situation.  First of all, no one in his new family is afraid of him, so I'm sure that's nice for his self-esteem.  Secondly, they have a lot of land and there are lots of other dogs around, both relative and friend.  He was wearing a handkerchief around his neck.  It looked hysterical!  The kids had a great time playing with him for about a half hour.  It was the son of this family who actually got the dog, and he is just adorable.  He's sixteen, and as cute as can be.  But to top it all off he was just awesome with my kids.  He chatted with them like they were old friends, took them to see his gecko, his horses, and some other things around their property.  So all in all, I'm very glad we went.  I'm still very sad I couldn't have been a stronger, less lazy person and just dealt with the extra effort of a dog, but at the same time I can't believe the immense feeling of relief.  I hate admitting that, but it's very true.  I still don't know if I did the right thing.  But now that I don't have that extra stress I'm trying to focus that energy on being a nicer and more patient mom. 

Do you guys know who Joel McHale is?  He hosts "The Soup" on the E! (or, as Joel says, the "eh") channel.  Well, I got to go see him last night at Abravanel (or, as Joel says, A Brave Anal) Hall!!  He was so so stinking hilarious!  I love him so much.  It's the first time in my life I was willing to spend big bucks to go see someone perform (well, when I was a teenager I desperately wanted to see New Kids on the Block and Nelson, but my parents wouldn't let me).  It was so worth it.  His opening act was a guy name Brooks McBeth, who was almost as hilarious as Joel.  Even Jeremy was busting up.  This guy got me through some major postpartum depression three years ago!  

So when we first walked in there was a little stand selling his t-shirts.  I wanted one real bad.  We decided to have a closer look and if they were like ten or fifteen bucks I would've bought one.  We hear the worker say they're $25, but then she says Joel will sign it!!  I was beside myself!  I start marching Jeremy to the line and then we hear the girl say, "Cash only."  What?!  Who carries cash in this day and age?!  We start rummaging through Jeremy's wallet and my purse.  Counting the five dollar bill Jeremy found on the ground on our walk there, we had seventeen dollars.  I was the saddest person in the world!  I kept telling Jeremy to just run and find an ATM, it's okay if he's a few minutes late for the show.  No deal.  I didn't get the t-shirt. :(  Huge bummer!!  But it was still the most exciting night ever!  Thanks, Kira, for watching my kids for five hours.  I love you Joel!!!!

Speaking of awesome siblings:  Kira and I are always lamenting about our shortcomings, wishing we were better at this or that.  But the thing I've been realizing a lot lately is that I'd be perfectly content if I was just like her.  I'll share just one most recent example, but there are thousands.  I'm sure you've all heard about how I broke my son's arm and that Kira dropped everything and hurried over so I could go to the hospital.  Here's what happened at home while we were gone.  Kira and the kids all made cute get-well cards for Lance, as well as a cute little banner that was hanging on the door when we got home.  Then later that night the kids started telling me all about this great family home evening lesson she had given them.  What?!  We were gone for about two hours.  It takes me at least an hour to think of an idea, another hour to process it, and days later I might follow through with it.  Even a couple of days later Brody and Jace were excitedly telling me about throwing rocks in the water, and later Jace came and told me there was a ghost (holy ghost) in our house.  See, if she called me to come watch her kids (which I've never done at her house, I always make her bring them to me), I would basically be there to make sure they're kept safe. But she utilizes that short two hours and does all these wonderful things with them.  Why can't I be that kind of person when the example is right there in front of me?

Don't I have the sweetest (and cutest) little bro?  Tonight he came to visit poor little Lance and brought him a candy bar and a car toy.  Lance loves anything with cars.  I was so touched at Denny's thoughtfulness.  What an awesome uncle!  He then proceeded to play with Sawyer (the dog) and the kids for like an hour.  What a great treat for me! 

Things I have done in my life:

Gotten married

Had six beautiful children

Things I have not done:

Had a daughter

refrained from breaking my child's arm

That's right.  That forlorn little six-year-old is suffering all because of me.  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but it happened while I was bouncing him on the trampoline.  Don't bother lecturing me.  Every doctor in the emergency room already did.  And believe me, I have learned my lesson.  It was quite traumatizing.  I could tell on this particular bounce that it wasn't going to be a smooth landing.  He started crying, but it wasn't the agonized cry I was expecting, so I was hoping he was okay.  Then I saw his arm.  I won't go into detail, but I knew right away that it was definitely broken.  And can I just say that in situations like this, THANK GOODNESS FOR HUSBANDS.  All I could do was cover my mouth and moan, all the while Jeremy is grabbing Lance, grabbing his keys, and heading out the door for the hospital.  I came in and called Kira and calmly asked if she could come babysit so I could meet them at the hospital.  Just kidding.  I was bawling so hysterically she couldn't understand a word I was saying.  She hurried over, and I rushed to the hospital.  Oh man.  The look on that kid's face when I walked into his room about killed me.  They had just started him on morphine so he was starting to get a little glazy.  Luckily Dr. Cook happened to be there, just checking on a patient for another doctor, so they were able to get Lance right into the little operating room.  Everything went well, and Lance is being such a trooper.  I think he thinks it's pretty cool to wear that cast.  So all you mothers out there, if you have never broken any of your childrens' arms, don't take that blessing for granted!