Happenings in Neyville

We had the flu visit our home two weeks ago. This was one of the worst flu visits we have ever had. No one escaped it! It started on a Saturday afternoon with Lolly throwing up while sitting on the toilet. I thought maybe it was just a freak event from something she had eaten because she acted fine afterwards. The next night, Sunday, Poppet started throwing up around 2am. I could tell I didn't feel great myself but was really hoping that it was my imagination from having to clean her up. The next morning it got me! Within a couple hours my mom was down. Poor Shelbie and Shaylah had to hold down the fort by themselves because Shyloh was working. My mom and I were sick Monday and Tuesday. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning Shaylah and Shannen were hit. By 10:00 that morning Shayden and Shadd were casualties. Shelbie and I brought in a blow up air mattress and put it in the living room so we could have all four patients in one room. It was much easier to keep up with washing throw up bowls and tending to sick children. Shyloh came home from work that afternoon and within 2 hours she was throwing up. Thursday morning it was Shelbie's turn. Duane was praying all week that he would make it through his work week because he is out of sick days. Shylie and Duane started throwing up within an hour of each other Friday morning! By Sunday morning everyone was healthy, but Duane and I were so very tired.



(Our sick room, Poppet feeding Shyloh applesauce, poor Shylie)

The next week was Shelbie's 15th birthday. She requested Mexican Pizza for her birthday dinner and a chocolate peanut butter cake. The following night her friend Caitlin came and spent the night. We went to a Modesto Nuts game and afterwards planned on going bowling. The mascot for the Nuts was hilarious. He kept coming up and pestering the girls. Shaylah told him that it was Shelbie's birthday so he led our section of seats in singing Happy Birthday to Shelbie. She wanted the ground to open up and swallow her! It was so funny for the rest of us. We made it to the bowling alley around 11:30 and found out that they are no longer open 24 hours a day. (Whew...I was so tired and hadn't quite figured out how I was going to make it through bowling!!)

Shelbie blowing out those 15 candles!









Shaylah, Caitie, and Shelbie at the game

Shelbie getting sung to by the giant almond! She was so embarassed! We loved it!



After we left the bowling alley we took Shyloh and dropped her off at her friends house. Shyloh and three friends were getting up at 3:00 am and leaving for a week long trip to Idaho. We are all feeling sad to have her gone for a whole week so close to her getting married and moving out. She is having a great time and making some sweet memories with her friends. Shyloh and her best friend, Annie, have been friends since they were five years old! Such a sweet friendship! We will be so very glad when she is back at home Friday night!
(just found out that she won't be home until Saturday night...I'm so bummed)

Yesterday it was very strange to spend the 4th without Shyloh here. We kept busy so that helped. I woke up not feeling great and was so bummed that my day was getting off to a bad start. Thankfully it turned around! We started the day off by going to the parade. We LOVE the parade! Lynette and Jeff came with us. Later on that day Lynette's mom, brother and sister in law, and their kids came over. (Have I mentioned before how much we love Lynette's family? We try to steal them every holiday we can!) We had a great time hanging out, the kiddos swam, Duane took great pleasure in soaking Lynette who was only going to get in the pool but not get her hair wet, and we had some yummy hamburgers. The kids had a fabulous time lighting fireworks and thankfully no one got burned. The day was such a pleasure (except for a minor oil leak! see previous post!) and we all were more than ready for bed by the end of the night.


Me and my honey








Watching the parade


Shelbie, Shaylah, and Shylie


Shaylah and Shylie. Shylie loved watching the parade!

The "boys"..Shadd, Shannen, Ethen, and Shayden. What is it with boys and fire? Oh, the gleem in their eyes as they lit those fireworks. Of course come to think of it, I think I've seen that gleam in the eye of grown men too!

Uncle Micah and Shaylah. These two are cut from the same cloth. Both are goofy.

Me and my sister in law, Lynette. God chose not to give me a sister by birth, but instead gave me a sister of the heart. Love that girl!!

Watching fireworks. I think Jeff was a little lost without Shyloh, but he still managed to have fun.





Poppet with her pet beetle bug "Sarah". I guess this is what happens when you have 3 big brothers. She loooovves beetle bugs! (Make note to self...beetles don't do good in a sealed container over night...RIP Sarah)