Ivy Six-Pack

Disclaimer

2009-07-11T19:34:00.007-06:00

The entrance to the campground and marina just outside Lovell, WY.

Meredith at the swimming area. Grandpa put the boat in the water and it would not start, so we swam instead. They even had a lifeguard!

Next to the swimming area was a huge playground and picnic area with at least 20 picnic tables - enough for a crowd.

Meredith and Jarrett

Jeffrey

Meredith mastered the monkey bars.

Jarrett escaping a game of tag by climbing on top of the playground. Why must they all be monkeys?

The wind picked up about 5pm and was probably 40mph. Too windy to have a campfire or even be outside with the dirt blowing for that matter. Morgan decided to color.

Jarrett and Mikalah played cards.

The next morning while Grandpa went into town to check on the boat, Mike, Grandma, the kids and I explored the rest of the National Park Area. There is a Wild Mustang Preserve. One hundred and twenty mustangs run free.

We saw big horn sheep. A baby nursing. Big horn sheep grow a ring per year on their horns and do not shed them like antlers. These sheep are not very old.

A view of the canyon that connects to the lake that we were camping at. From this viewpoint, the water is 900 feet below. The water at that point is over 150 feet deep.

A floating outhouse - necessary when the canyon is fifty miles long.

Jarrett, Meredith, Grandma, Mikalah, Morgan, Mike & Jeffrey. Judson was at summer camp.

The family - minus Judson, but including Morgan's babies that go everywhere with her!

My little girl that's not so little anymore. She regularly reminds us that she will be 13 in just two short months!

More big horn sheep. I take pictures of people...Mike takes pictures of animals and scenery...we make a good team.

Boat is ready and we head out to the lake! The hotdog is the younger kids favorite!

Grandma and Mike relaxing as we head into the canyon. Meredith tired out after swimming for a bit.

Morgan...finally resting. She is a ball of energy!

About fifteen miles into the canyon the boat stopped. Mike and his Dad worked for 30 minutes trying to get it started again. Because it was the middle of the week the area is almost deserted. We hadn't seen another boat for almost an hour. I was thankful for lots of towels and the cooler of food we had brought when I started wondering if we would be stuck out there over night. Somehow, I ws pretty calm even though I was frustrated and a little nervous.

But God answered prayers and another boat came along. They towed us back to the marina. However because we couldn't go very fast it took us almost two hours. At least it was a pretty trip!

Another view from above. You can see how the canyon winds through.

What happens when Morgan takes a picture. She was so proud of her picture of the fence.

My wonderful family!

***Pictures from our recent trip to Horseshoe Bend near Lovell, WY. They show people having fun. This in no way proves that the blog author now enjoys camping. This disclaimer is in place to state that vacation - true relaxation - includes a five-star hotel and a spa treatment.

Polish Boy

2009-07-02T04:40:00.000-06:00

Tuesday we did major shopping at...of course...Costco. The nectarines and cherries are BEAUTIFUL and so delicious right now!!! I was going to start telling you what special finds I get at Costco, but this was truly a "stock-the-shelves" trip. However, there was Dove shampoo on sale for $4.97 with a free conditioner included. Gotta watch those prices that end in $0.97. Those are the lowest price that Costco will offer. There's my tip of the day.

However, my favorite part of the trip was lunch...and not just the hundreds of samples. Otherwise lunch would have been bread, pina colada sherbet, chips and salsa, ham, black licorice, hummus on a chip, and salad. I guess you could probably call that a well rounded meal.

But, no. our lunch was eight polish sausages for $1.50 a piece and each comes with a drink. Can't beat lunch for the family for $12! Mike got sauerkraut on his polish dog. Jeffrey in a loud voice in the middle of a huge lunch crowd whines, "I want sauercrap too!" Priceless!

Thank you

2009-07-01T04:49:00.001-06:00

This Gotcha Day is dedicated to my birth mom.

For your sacrifice.

For the hard choice you made.

For giving me...everything!

Control

2009-06-30T20:58:00.002-06:00

I was just reading Kate Gosselin's book, Multiple Bles8ings. Setting aside any opinions of their family or situation, it is an interesting book to read. Like Kate, I sometimes struggle with wanting to control things (something she confesses in the book). I want to set things up in such a way that my kids are taken care of...that they don't hurt.

Change of thought, but I promise it all ties in nicely...

Judson is struggling with a staph infection again. He had one at the beginning of May, and he was put on antibiotics. In addition to that, we had to drain the sores that appeared on his body. I know, TMI...but I tell you that because it was painful for him, but necessary. It was also painful for the mommy to see him in pain. He healed up, and I was thankful it was over. Apparently it was not. The strain he had is resistant to some antibiotics...including the one he was taking. So this past weekend he showed up with more sores, and was feeling pretty crummy. So now he is on a different antibiotic. However, he has six sores on this sweet body that need to be drained. They are all in very tender spots, making it more difficult.

As a mother watching her son struggle, I too struggle with the "how do I keep this from happening" thoughts. Because the truth is, I can't. We didn't do anything wrong...and we probably couldn't have prevented it from happening. But I don't want to see my child suffer.

So as I am reading Kate's book, she starts talking about wanting to make everything right for her children, and then having God tell her, "No, Kate, they are mine first. I love them even more that you ever possibly could. Let me be in control!" WOW! That's God putting me in my place! Because I did not read Kate's name when I was reading it...I read mine.

Why is it so hard to let the God who controls the universe control my life? Why don't I just give in? Why do I even begin to think that I know better? I wouldn't dare admit that out loud, but my actions reveal my attitude.

My kids, my house, my finances, my health, my future, my relationships - He is in control of it all!!

Summer???

2009-06-21T08:30:00.002-06:00

It is the first day of Summer (and Father's Day - Happy Father's Day - and my sister's birthday - Happy Birthday, Jessica!) and I just made hot chocolate for my kiddos. What is wrong with this picture???

Wiggle Those Hips

2009-06-18T16:39:00.004-06:00

The Rules

2009-06-16T20:38:00.000-06:00

Any mother with more than one child over the age of 5 will totally understand this. Who knew there were official rules???

A Do-Nothing Day

2009-06-15T23:43:00.000-06:00

Today I did NOTHING.

But let me explain.

This past weekend my husband kidnapped forced took our family to the camp that he attended when he was a child. They were having "Family Camp" and he was the speaker.

Let me just say that Jennifer is excited about camp has not been issued since jr. high. Back then I was more concerned about the cute boys. Of course there was still a cute boy, but there are now things like dirt, bugs, and dirt.

But my husband was so excited, so we packed up the family and went. Into the mountains...out of cell range...to stay in a little cabin...and sleep on a hard, skinny bed. Sleep is such a broad term. It could mean to close your eyes and enter a relaxed state of slumber for 6-8 hours.

Or it could mean that you attempt to find a comfortable spot on a bed that is only 24 inches across.

Or that are still cold despite wearing four layers and snuggling into your sleeping bag with it pulled up over your head and completely zipped up.

Or it could be that when you are finally able to close your eyes for a few seconds that your youngest child wakes up crying and decides that there is room in your sleeping bag for her too.

Or it could be that your middle son's iturtle starts to go off, and you question for the tenth time why he brought it with him.

Or you discover that now is the time for your allergies to pine to kick in...when you are in the middle of the mountains covered in pine trees.

And because of said allergies you discover that you haven't been taking your allergy medicine long enough for it to build up in your system.

Or you discover that maybe your husband and two other children seem to have a similar sensitivity to pine trees.

And if you combine all of that together you would have a combined total of 4 hours of actual eye closed relaxed slumber in a 48 hour time period.

Then you would come home and take a long hot shower and try to have some blissful eye-closed relaxation for nine beautiful hours except for the fact that you still can't breathe out of your nose.

So today I laid on the couch...took lots of meds...and tried to sleep...amidst children asking for something every few seconds. Thankfully the hubby also stayed home and fed the kids and talked to the plumber and the hvac guy.

So today, I did nothing.

Lost in Translation

2009-06-11T13:39:00.003-06:00

Jeffrey asked me if he had to sleep with covers on for his "rest" time. Really, I don't know how we could call it rest time, because he doesn't rest. In fact he comes out every few minutes to stretch and say he slept, or because he has to go to the bathroom, or he forgot a toy, etc. It isn't rest time for me either.

Anyway, I said he didn't have to have covers on...whatever you want, kid, just stay in your room and let mommy have a few moments of peace.

This is what I found when I went to check on him...

...no covers. But how can you be upset when he is sitting quietly looking at his brother's bible...that he was touching without permission...and had removed the bookmark from where Jarrett had been reading.

What do you say? "Put down the Bible and make your bed?"

"But Mommy, you said I didn't have to have covers. And I like it this way."

Every day, people...this is what I deal with EVERY DAY!!!!

Grampy T. comes to Town

2009-06-10T15:41:00.006-06:00

My grandfather came for a visit on my birthday this year. He is 85 years young and made the big trip to see our family. When he arrived he said he wanted to play with the kids and eat out as often as possible. We were happy to oblige with both! However, the weather had different ideas. For the four days that he was here we had some miserable weather. Rainy and highs in the low 50s. But there were a few breaks and we took advantage of them.

The kids last day of school was Friday and Grampy arrived right before school was out. We picked them up and played on the playground for a bit. Sat. was so yucky that we stayed inside, ate chicken noodle soup...in June people!...and played the Farming game...and Iverson tradition.

Sunday after church, the sun peeked out for a bit, so we played and then came back home for the traditional popcorn and cheese and crackers dinner.

On Monday we decided to take Grampy to Yellowstone since he had never been. It was quick trip, and we didn't see everything, but we did see some cool stuff and experienced a variety of weather.

After we took this picture, we went back to the van to discover the doors were locked and Mike had left the keys in the ignition. By only a miracle, the driver's door was unlocked and we were able to get in.

Yes, that is SNOW!!!

The clan at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

What a suspicious group of kids!

I'm sure Grampy thought we would lose a child or two over the edge each time we stopped somewhere. I did too!

Grampy bought us all ice cream as an afternoon snack.

The Dragon's Mouth hot spring.

The moose we saw when we were leaving the park...after we drove through a foot of snow.

Dinner in Cody. Oh it was sooooo good! I don't think we needed to eat for the next 24 hours. Grampy and I both got a brisket sandwich. So yummy in my tummy!

I hope there are many more pictures like this!!!

Thank you, Grampy, for such a special visit. You showed me to be more patient with my children and enjoy them. To slow down and look around. To relax a little. To be generous with everything, but most of all my smile.

Long Overdue

2009-06-10T14:52:00.006-06:00

Wow, it has been way too long! For those of you that know the Iverson's well, you know that we are just nearing the end of birthday season. That's my only excuse. I think it is the same excuse I used last year! So here is six weeks in pictures.

Mother's Day at Riverfront Park. We took Subway to the park and just relaxed.

Mikalah and I had gone shopping the week before and Mikalah "secretively" bought this hat for me... ...not so sure it was really a secret. Hard to hid something that size, but I love it!!! It is my southern belle hat! Perfect for sitting by the pool with a book!

Morgan's Birthday: May 27th. Can you tell she is a girly girl??

One of the things she asked for was a Dora bathing suit.

We took some friends out to the ranch to play around for the day. This is the view on the way to "Little Wall" (because it looks like a little wall...my kids always ask where big wall is...)

Boys and their toys...they go to blow things up.

My girls on the fourwheeler. Morgan went from one ride to another...all day long!

Mikalah and Judson both spent most of their time on the motorcycle.

Other uses for the fire ring. Later that day we did roast "smarshmallows" (according to Morgan)

One day I went with my friend, Jill, to take some pictures of the kids.

Jill had fun trying to get Jeffrey to follow directions. Mommy did not.

But a few good shot were to be had...now if I could just get Jill's shots...

Jarrett collided with a friend on a trampoline and came home with a good shiner. (a little hard to see, but it was pretty!)

And had his 8th birthday, complete with Mountian High Mud Pie. We tried to get one from Red Robin, but ended up making our own. It was soooo yummy and we had to throw part of it away before we started eating it for breakfast!

What Will We do Without American Idol?

2009-05-25T03:31:00.000-06:00

We'll live life like we always do, duh!

However, I did enjoy this season. I find it fascinating how even if you don't win, just the spotlight can send someone off the charts. And sometime I think not winning gives them some freedom to do what they want, not what American Idol people want them to do. Not that my two cents is worth too much. It would get you two rides on the pony at Meijer...if we had a Meijer in Billings.

Well, here is my tribute to Kris Allen with hopes that he gets the opportunity to do more music like this...and less of "No Boundaries".

Beg, Borrow, Steal

2009-05-19T07:56:00.001-06:00

Morgan singing:

Row, row, row your boat,
gently down the street,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
had a leg of lamb.

Also, since we've been in the midst of soccer season for the past few weeks Morgan has used the "porcupine" potty often (aka: port-a-potty)

Can I borrow Too Funny Tuesday for this one, Seth???

Music Monday

2009-05-18T08:07:00.003-06:00

This past weekend I had the privilege to attend a Women of Faith event. I have attended several events like these, and it is interesting to me how different they all are. Beth Moore's conferences are intense, deep in the word, worship emphasis events. Women of Faith is more of a fun girls weekend with a Biblical emphasis. Each has their place and purpose. And both are awesome in their own way.

I went into this weekend with some lower expectations. I really wanted to hear Lisa Welchel and Steven Curtis Chapman, but neither one of them came to Billings. And the special Friday day session has Marilyn Meberg as the feature speaker. Of all the "original" women, she is the one that I have enjoyed the least.

But I was blown away. Marilyn was fantastic! There were so many wonderful nuggets for the whole weekend that I am still processing.

One thing I thought I would share was a Mandisa performance. I started watching American Idol after season 5 when she appeared, so I was really not familiar with her. Her story is fabulous! Her voice is phenomenal. Her beauty is stunning! She is performing at Idol's finale this upcoming week and asked us all to pray that she would be a good witness.

Enjoy!

*** Correction...I had previously stated Mandisa had won season 5, but my wonderful friend, Elaine, who is much more familiar with such things, pointed out that she actually came in 9th. Thank you, Elaine!!!!! (Shows I wasn't paying close attention when they introduced her at WoF!, but still looking forward to hearing her sing at the finale!)

I LOVE Organization!

2009-05-07T23:51:00.003-06:00

I am on a rampage in our house...

I've cleaned bedrooms. I've cleaned closets. And today my mother in law and I started tackling a kitchen redo. A mini one. We are going to remove the wallpaper, stucco the walls, and paint them green to get rid of the pink...I mean champagne color to the cabinets. I will post pictures when we finish.

My hubby told me he found a quote for me today...and I have laughed about it most of the day.

Why?

Because it is way too true...

I'm CDO...it's kind of like OCD only with the letters in alphabetical order the way they are supposed to be.

New Record

2009-05-04T11:54:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I went to Costco and spent $6.00 on milk and ice. I think that's a new record! I can't remember the last time I spent less than $100 in there!

Spring has Sprung

2009-05-02T19:43:00.002-06:00

Nevermind that we are really halfway through Spring. Today I think it is here to stay. Although I am too afraid to check the weather forcast to see what next week holds!

So while the rest of the world was outside playing in the park, I was in my little kids rooms. Changing out the rest of their seasonal clothes; dumping out toy buckets and throwing away the garbage and organizing what was left; and fixing broken things.

But now I have two rooms of my house that are beautiful...until tomorrow.

Six Going On Sixteen

2009-05-01T08:50:00.002-06:00

Music

2009-04-30T06:13:00.000-06:00

I am so not up with the latest music. I still occasionally pull out 4Him. But I do try. I like Addison Road...I just don't have any of their music. I have all of 4Him's and Amy Grant.

But this morning I woke up with a Mark Schultz song stuck in my head.

Not this one:

It makes me cry.

But this one:

It's just that simple. He says, "I AM! Come and follow me and you will see!"

There are so many places I would be emotionally if it weren't for Him being I AM!

Fortunes

2009-04-29T05:37:00.000-06:00

My message inside the Dove chocolate I ate today:

Start a good habit today.

Seriously? Like to eat healthier...with less chocolate?

MOPS Summit & the Brain Fog that Follows

2009-04-28T11:06:00.003-06:00

I am finally coming out of the fog of my brain that was MOPS Summit. For those nor familiar, MOPS is Mothers of Preschoolers - awesome group!!! Okay, I'm kind of biased. I am the Council Coordinator for Eastern Montana. That's really just a fancy title meaning I try and help all of the groups in Eastern Montana. Help them get started, help them resolve stuff in their groups, help them become better groups so they can be better moms and make a better world. (check out the website - it will make more sense then)

This past weekend we had a training workshop for all of the leaders. That training included a live feed from MOPS International in Denver and some training from yours truly on conflict management. I am so thankful to MOPS for providing me with great material! Now if only it would work on my four year old!!!!

So it is now Tuesday and I am finally regaining my brain. I am doing mountains of laundry and figuring out what food is left in our house.

Meredith and Jeffrey also had their post-op appointments with the ENT this morning and were given a clean bill of health. We are headed to the speech therapist for Jeffrey some time in the next two weeks. Mommy working with him is coming to an end. Mommy's patience has worn out and I really don't want it to turn into something that requires punishment...he has lots of things that require punishment right now. So time to set up regular appointments. We have seen a change in his speech since surgery. He seems to have less trouble with his tongue, but his words seem more muddled now. Who knows...let you know what the speech therapist says.

This weekend my grandparents were moved into an Alzheimer's care facility. It should alleviate quite a bit of stress from my parents. They have been working around the clock to care for them. Some of the situations are sad, but a lot of them are humorous. Like the fact that my grandparents keep switching PJs in the middle of the night. I really don't want to know why, but it is kinda funny. Especially when you temper it with the fact that they still love each other so much!

Lastly, my sweet little girl, Muffy, is turning SIX in three days. I don't think I can stand it!!! Of course I also am not 100% sure what we are doing yet! She wants a Daddy-Daughter Dating Party. I'm thinking roller skating with some friends and their Daddys and then ice cream. We'll see.

Now, back to the coffee to clear the rest of the fog!

The Search for Summer Clothing

2009-04-20T14:31:00.001-06:00

For all of you summer clothes shopping, this post is all too true!!!!

Coming up for Air

2009-04-18T12:12:00.002-06:00

There are days that being able to say I survived the two youngest children is all I accomplished. But I am beginning to see glimmers of hope.

We are beginning to see a drop in the number of tantrums that Jeffrey is throwing and that he is starting to control some of those out-of-control emotions. Yesterday we have a fun conversation:

Jeffrey: Mommy what are those lines on the window? (referring to the cracks in my van windshield that I hate, but why pay the $500 to replace when we are entering the construction season in Montana? Neither crack is obstructing my view.)

Me: Those are cracks where rocks hit the windshield and it cracked.

Jeffrey: No, it cracked because you hit a moose.

Me: what?

Jeffrey: (again) it cracked because you hit a moose.

Me: no, they are from rocks that flew up from other cars tires.

Jeffrey: oh, that's right Grandma hit a moose!

Something you aren't telling us, grandma?

Then this morning my sweet boy brought me breakfast in bed. He said he was thinking of me, so he wanted to bring me breakfast in bed. My breakfast? five sticky jelly beans and a Hershey's chocolate egg. But the smile on his face was worth it!!

Summer Bliss

2009-04-01T17:19:00.001-06:00

It's the little things, people...just the little things...

Project Runway returns to TV this Summer.

Report

2009-03-29T10:56:00.002-06:00

Meredith: doing great

Jeffrey: still struggling

Mommy: at the end of her emotional limit

Oh, and Happy 4th Birthday, Jeffrey. Hopefully you will at least try to eat some of your ice cream cake.

Spring 2008