A few weeks back we had a major windstorm and we lost power for a while. When the power came back on my surge protector didn't work and my computer died. I still have several pictures I want to post from September and October, but I need to take my computer into Best Buy and have them get the pictures off for me because I hadn't backed them up in a few months. Live and learn I guess. In the mean time I have a little story to share for which no pictures are necessary to appreciate.
Last week we decided to take the kids to the temple to see the Christmas lights. We stopped on the way to get some shakes, and a great time was being had by all. When we arrived at the temple, Elise and Steven both needed to use the bathroom. We could hear Cameron filling his diaper on the drive there, so Chris offered to change Cameron's diaper in the back of the car while I took the big kids to find a bathroom. Once in the bathroom, Steven proceeded to sit on the toilet and somehow pee all over the back of his pants. I will never understand boys and their toilet issues. We headed out to the car and I was about to say something to Chris about it, but as soon as we walked up he just looked at me and said, "Cameron's diaper leaked all over ME! I guess his diaper had exploded in his carseat, and Chris picked him up without knowing it. He had poop all over his shirt. We changed Cameron into his pajamas which we had brought, but Chris had no shirt to change into so we walked around the temple quickly with poop spots on Chris' shirt and Steven's pants wet from pee. Good times. We went back to the car and gave Elise and Steven their pajamas to change into. While changing in the back seat, Elise somehow managed to knock what was left of her chocolate milkshake over, and it covered the front eat of the car (mine and Chris' seats of course). We mopped it up the best we could, and I was just thinking, "What else?" Never ask that question. On the drive home, Steven kept saying his tummy hurt. He gets carsick easily, but he's never actually thrown up from it before. He usually just complains his tummy hurts a little. I guess with the milk shake though it was just too much, because all the sudden he began throwing up milkshake and dinner all over himself, Elise, and the entire back seat of our car. Elise had bits of broccoli on her, and in case you know how Elise feels about broccoli, lets just say that I'm not sure if she was more upset about being covered in throw up or about having bits of broccoli on her. Chris pulled over and I hopped out to try to clean it up. I was standing on the side of the road gagging and trying to scoop the big chunks of throw up out of the car with baby wipes. We cleaned up the best we could, stripped Steven down to his undies and put my sweater on him, rolled down the windows and drove the rest of the twenty minute drive home in a car that smelled like it needed to be burned. I spent the whole next day cleaning, sanitizing, and deodorizing my car. Steven got a new carseat out of the deal. I think it will be a while before we visit the temple as a family again. But at least some of us were still laughing at it when we arrived home. I think I stopped laughing while I was standing on the side of the road gagging, but Chris found it hillarious as he was the only one still in the front seat safe from the throw up.
Steven turned four on Friday. I can't believe how big he is getting! We celebrated with a lunch party at Chuck E. Cheese with some friends, and had a little celebration at home later. Steven was so excited about his birthday that he kept asking if today was his birthday for almost a month before. The night before his birthday he woke up so excited (might I add that it was around 1am) that he couldn't sleep. He kept getting out of bed for water, to use the potty, etc. Finally I told no more drinks or bathroom trips - get in bed and stay there. About an hour later Chris heard something so he got up to find Steven playing with toys in his room. He brought Steven into our bed so he would go to sleep, but instead of sleeping he tossed and turned, and began singing the birthday song (yes folks, it was around 3am by now). I think we won't tell this boy when it is the night before Christmas, we'll just spring it on him that morning.
Back in September we took a little trip to Park City. We met up with a lot of family from both sides while we were there and saw cousins we don't get to see very often, so it was a lot of fun for everyone. Here are a couple pictures of all of the Strong cousins. I really wish I had taken a picture of all the adults behind the cameras acting foolish to try to get 9 kids all looking and smiling at the same time. As you can see, they were not very successful! Cute pictures anyway, though.
