And We Wake Up

So I didn't get it all done myself... thank goodness for friends and for Bob... we didn't get the packing done until after the game... and then left, finding we'd forgotten a few things... nothing we couldn't do without or pick up, thank goodness!

We had a relatively good flight... although with the mess of having to rearrange our return flight, they had to reissue our tickets. In doing so, they ended up messing with out seat assignments and put Beth 20 seats away from us! But lucky us, Bob speaks Spanish and was able to talk to the woman who ended up in the extra seat beside and she was willing to trade off! Never the less, I hate flying... I hate it because I hate the stress of it all!

We've had a wonderful time so far. It's great having the seven cousins all together. We've got lots of pictures, but I won't be putting any up right now. I will leave you with a couple of the funny / cute things I can recall... unfortunately, even on vacation, my memory isn't as good as it once was!

When we were walking back on part of the Biz Johnson trail (after seeing some old train tunnels), I was carrying Jeremy on my back. He said to me "You're cool, Mom"

Okay...so my brain is worse right now than I thought... I guess I'll have to just leave you with that. We're got more planned... and we're enjoying our time.

Welcome To My Nightmare

For the last several weeks I've been Bob-less.... Bob likes projects. He likes investing in our future and planning for retirement (I have to Thank him for that).... The two things go hand in hand. Planning for the future = projects.... lots of projects.

When he first told me about this new project, it was planned to take about two weeks... and he'd be around some of that. I knew that meant at least two weeks, probably tack on another week and we'd not see him at all. Aside from baseball, we really didn't see him at all. But he ran into a glitch... the roof was going to cost way, way, way more than we'd budgeted (to have someone else do it entirely), so Bob ended up with another project... adding to the length of time away from the house (this is not our roof... it's an apartment roof).

So, in addition to doing the roof, he still had all the other renovations to complete as well. Let's just say we're into week 5 and he's just finishing up... finishing up may be relative... it may mean that it's good enough but will require a little more time when we get back.... or it may mean it's really done. I'm not sure... actually, Bob is still working on the last bathroom as I type this!

That's not my nightmare... but what follows is:

We're suppose to go on vacation to visit Bob's folks! We're excited about this. I begged Bob last year reminding him that it had been four years since we'd made the trek and now we had two more children. And he agreed, we bought tickets earlier this year, and the day has arrived... more or less.

With his 'project', I've been left alone to take care of the house, the kids, the bills, the mess, the packing, the lists, the airplane screw-ups (yes, Delta canceled our return flight and since I wasn't the one who bought the tickets to begin with, I had to go through the run around to get them to let me take care of rescheduling our return flight!), the mess, the packing... oh, yeah, now I'm repeating myself.

I guess that makes a lot of sense since my brain hasn't shut-up in over two weeks. Lists and plans, and thoughts and organizing, finding activities for the kids, finding ways to keep them healthy, happy and out of the way, and finding myself going to bed around midnight and wide awake by 5am... even when one of the kids ends up in bed with me. Needless to say, I have no patience. I have not desire to do any more. I'm tired, I'm emotional, I'm needy, and I'm so ready to be done with everything....

As if that wasn't enough... we're now into the hour count down... with Gabi's last baseball game shortening the available time we have. I set out this morning to finally organize all the clean laundry to figure out just what needed to be packed... and get it into the right suitcases.... things seemed to be going well... until we discovered that one suitcase is entirely broken... unfixable without replacing the entire zipper... which I don't have. Two need repairs, which require little kids to be out of the way so I can get the sewing machine out. I feel like I should be pulling my hair out... instead I'm fighting with kids about cleaning up their toys so I can vacuum... I mean, really, who wants to come home to a mess... and crumbs filled with ants and bugs?

Peter is now cutting his molars... ouch.... and he screams all the time. Doesn't want to eat because it hurts, but then is more cranky because he doesn't eat. He won't let me leave him alone to eat his lunch (since he just got up from his nap) so I'm stuck here... which is why you're able to read about my nightmare!

Some people think I'm strong and amazing... I think those people haven't walked into my house in a very long time! I'm falling apart... okay, so really I only feel like I am. My house is actually looking a lot better than it has in a couple of months... but I'm not finished packing yet either... and that's more stressful then the idea of coming home to a messy house! I feel like I want to ship my kids away (even though I ran off yesterday, leaving them with a very good friend, to finally buy some clothes that fit... the joys of not nursing or being pregnant....). If I have to have another day of my husband being unavailable to assist with the children all day long, I'm going to have to check into the loony bin! (It's a good thing we'll be flying tomorrow... so he's stuck with us! ;) )

I don't know how single mothers do it! Hats off to all of you! I knew it was hard watching my own mother go through it, but man, I don't think I could ever pull it off! Two weeks is about all I'm good for!

Regardless, every nightmare has an upside... when you wake up and realize it's only a nightmare! For me, that will happen tomorrow, when we finally arrive at Grandma and Grandpa's house! ....And then the FUN really begins!

Can't Keep Her In Books

WOW!

That's really all there is to say!

Wow! Wow! Double Wow!

What's so incredible? Gabi sat down tonight with a new book... a new book she'd never seen in her life. A book I figured would last her at least until we left on vacation... even if she read it most of the day.

So, she sat down to read it... an hour later I walk into the room and she's 90 pages into. I can't believe she has any idea what she's read because that's just too incredible. So I take the book and ask her about it... she started telling me in great detail about the book! I was shocked, to say the least! Needless to say, I handed her back the book... half an hour later she had finished it... all 156 pages!

WOW!

Food, Glorious Food!

My kids have always been very picky eaters. They still are... or so I thought.....

I sat down to make a list of foods that my kids like and will actually eat... it was rather lengthy... so we must be doing something right. Of course, just because they'll eat so many different foods doesn't mean I get to make whatever I want... you know, certain combinations still aren't "okay" in the kid menu!

Anyway.. I've been really excited this week because I've discovered that my little Peter loves salad! My other kids will eat lettuce or baby spinach with Ranch dressing on top. Don't try to add anything else to it... that just wouldn't do. But Peter loves MY SALAD! He loves to watch me cut it up... taking each piece he can grab and trying to eat it before the dressing is on and then handing it back. But that doesn't discourage him from digging in and trying again and again... it's almost like he knows that eventually there will be Italian dressing on it and he'll be able to enjoy it the way he likes! With a little Italian dressing (the vinegarette kind), he'll eat whatever is in my salad and loves it! (I think he just likes the vinegar... but since he'll eat the food too, I can't complain)

Anyway, this is very exciting for me! I love to make a good salad... but sometimes it seems discouraging to make it just for yourself... or for just Bob and myself... last night, I made one for me and for Peter. When I told him (he had a late nap since we're trying.. though not very successfully it seems...to put the kids on a different time zone schedule)... anyway, when I told him I'd made him his own salad, he got so excited! Oh... this is fun!

I Love My Four

I know it's been a very long time... at least for me. Things have just been really busy and though some things have slowed, we're going to continue to busy for quite some time to come. This week's projects include cutting, sewing, organizing, packing, laundry, dishes.... I'm sure there is much more. It's mostly a catch up week before vacation settles in on us!

I've been very blessed to be jolted back to loving the chaos of my own family. I always go through moments of "self-pity" when I find things just too much... running too much, doing to much, schedules too much... life... too much. Sometimes it's easier to get back to the "grateful" side and other times it takes awhile... this time... well, it's taken awhile. I was getting there slowly, but having seven kids (6 and under) in the house (without Bob to help... expect Sunday and a couple hours on Wednesday night) really put things in perspective.

It was fun, and the kids got along rather well (which helped a ton), but then there would be moments when we'd need to go some where (like baseball) and I'd freak out... seven little ones is a lot to get ready, together, out the door and hope you haven't forgotten anything. Thank goodness Courtney and Matt have raised such helpful kids (still kids, but it didn't add much time to the out-the-door-routine)!

Running from that to Vermont for my sister's graduation was incredible, to say the least... I was running on empty... as in tired. Coming home Sunday I had to stop four or five times to stretch my legs, breathe fresh air, and cat nap... but, we made it. I slept great Sunday night, took a nap on Monday and felt a sense of peace and calm.

Service is great. Especially when you can see the Lord's hand in helping you out. And when you can look back and see that not only have you helped someone else, but the Lord has blessed you to have helped yourself as well.

Seven is fun... for a while... but, right now, I love my four! I think I'll wait until they're older before thinking about adding to them.... And now my chaos doesn't feel so much like chaos any more!

Jeremy's 3!

My little snuggle bug has grown so much! It's hard to imagine that he's already three! I've really enjoyed watching him grow... using more and more words (and signs) and learning how to get along with other people. I love his smile... though often it's a sign of trouble coming! He's sweet and kind, even when he doesn't think he is. This year he was so excited about his birthday.... and excited to choose for himself what his cake would be (Thomas, of course)! So, here's a little peek into in his last year.

His Year's Accomplishments:

*Going potty by himself
*Knowing all letters by sight (not just order)
*Knowing all letter sounds
*Beginning to blend letter sounds
*Counting to 20
*Dressing himself (completely)
*Jigsaw Puzzles

His Year's Firsts:

*T-ball
*Eating Red Hot Dogs
*Getting lost (escaping nursery)
*Two wheel bike ride (with training wheels, of course)
*Completion of jigsaw puzzle by himself

His Favorite Foods:

*Pizza
*Red Hot Dogs
*Mac & Cheese
*Chicken (most meats, really)
*Peas
*Corn on the Cob
*Sausage (Kielbasa)
*Ice cream (especially Strawberry)
*Cake (any kind)
*watermellon
*baby oranges (mandarin oranges)
* and the list could go on forever... he likes to eat!

His Favorite Activities:

*Bugging Beth ("It's boring not bugging Bethie")
*Playing with trucks, cars
*Building tracks and running trains
*Reading "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" and "Blue Hat, Green Hat"

His Favorite Colors:

*Green
*Blue

His Favorite Sayings:

*But I still love you
*Yeah-ah
*That's silly
*I'm just jokin'
*Noooo, Peter
*It's not fair
*No...no, no, no, no

His Year In Pictures:

Tia Has Graduated!

My little sister is not so little any more... actually, she's not been so little in a rather long time (I'm the shortest one in the family). Still, she was the little baby that I helped take care of, helped teach to walk, helped potty train, helped learn to tie her shoes... and many more things. She was on my hip almost as much as on Mom's! I remember holding her at the floating bridge so she could throw the lilacs over into the water (a tradition we had on Memorial Day). I remember lugging her around school (after hours) for sports events. I remember her first day of school, her first loose tooth, her first dance recital, her first steps, first words, first foods, first laugh, etc.

We were always very close. It seemed that right up until I left for college I was like a second mother to her. And, I suppose, because of that bond, we've been really close ever since. She's been through a lot, and she's always known that we love her know matter what. That we're rooting for her to succeed, and helping her find her way.

So Saturday was a very special day! Any time someone graduates, it's special. But Ariel had so many odds against her...especially over this last year. Even when she'd over come one challenge, another would get in her way. At times it seemed that there were people around her trying to deliberately keep her from succeeding because of her choices and circumstances. Though truly difficult, she managed to defy them and to rise above and succeed! Most others in her situation would have dropped out of school. Ariel not only finished, graduated, but she's going to college to become a Math Teacher!

It was wonderful to be a part of celebrating such a great accomplishment! It was also hard because I had my first taste of that heart-stabbing "she's grown up" feeling that is both happy and sad... happy because she's done something great and starting a new part of her life. And sad because the little girl is gone.... she's grown up... and soon she'll be moving on completely. (I know it will be a million times worse when it's my own children)

It's moments like these that I am so thankful for the sealing power which binds families together forever. So although she's moving on, moving up, and becoming a better person, having a life of her own, she's still always a part of me....of us.

Tia, we love you so much! We're so happy for you! Excited for you! And wherever you are... you'll always have our love and prayers with you! Congratulations, Little Sister!

Jeremy's Parties

So, Jeremy turned three.. but we were gone... so I haven't put up his special blog yet... that will come along with everything else today! But since we knew we'd be gone, we decided to have a little celebration a few days earlier.

Jeremy insisted on a 3-D Thomas cake... which is what I did. It was my first attempt at such a recreation... and I think it turned out okay. I'm sure, if I needed to do it again, that there are a few things I'd do a little differently (like make sure I had red food coloring when I first started... instead of discovering it later and needed Bob to bring some home....and using toothpicks to keep the smoke stack from tipping to the side). Jeremy loved it, and that's what mattered!

He wanted more "train stuff" meaning things to go with his wooden trains and tracks. That's something everyone loves to play with, so expanding it was fine for us. He also wanted Thomas the Tank Engine for his wooden tracks (he already has him for the electric tracks), so that's what we got him... actually, Thomas, Annie, Clarabell, Percy, The Sodor Caboose, and the Sodor Gas car. We also go him a few more pieces.

Then from the kids (we had both our kids and Emma and Lucy pick something out) Jeremy got a sand and water wheel, a very large Sesame Street Kite, and a large thing of bubbles.

On his birthday (Saturday) we were at Grami Cretia's because Tia was graduating. But after she left for project grad (which was a cruise and trip to fun town), we had a Cookies n' Cream Ice Cream Cake... the girls made stories, a Thomas necklace (which Bethie calls a neckle-less), and a birthday hat. Grami and Grampi got Jeremy more track pieces... so we have quite the set up here at home right now. (We're starting a list of what types of pieces we need to make the track more functional....and more fun for all the kids to play at the same time. Over the next many years, we'll probably add pieces here and there.) He also go a Thomas kite (and much better size from him).



Anyway... he had a wonderful time and loves that he is three... although we had him confused... he thought he was three at the first party, and then, since he was having a second party, he thought he was four and didn't want to be yet... he hadn't had the fun of being three yet. So I explained things, and he was happy to just be three.... and now he's a "big boy" whose hair grows fast because he's a "big boy".... I just think it's funny that he thinks of himself as being a big boy now and not back when we first started telling him that he was! :)

Okay... the Special Tribute to Jeremy will come next!

Reid State Park

So Gabi had a field trip... almost a week ago now. It was fun... we drove down in the van (Gabi, Beth, Lucy, Emma and myself) even though we'd been invited to ride down on the bus. We liked the idea of being spoiled with the air conditioner and DVD players!





We spent the time on the beach... at first it was wave jumping... or more accurately, it was getting their feet wet and turning and running while yelling when the waves came in. :)
















We spent some time on the rocks... which were slippery in some areas... and since the kids weren't all that sure-footed, we stayed mostly on the dry ones. It was pretty to look out around us.... even with all the fog.














A favorite part was collecting sea shells... which were mostly broken... and which we've saved for projects.












Emma and Lucy really enjoyed playing in the sand... building it up some times, and then drawing in it other times.












We even saw this neat fort made out of driftwood. I have no idea who made it, but it was neat!

A Little Storm

Just real quick....I have permission to post pictures, so I'll do beach pictures later. Gabi had a field trip and I took her, Beth, Lucy and Emma. I'll tell you about with the pictures.

But... we have not had out the sprinkler yet... too many thunder storms.... Last night was a real adventure! Gabi had a baseball game that I ran her down to. I took the two babies with me (since I'd been away from them all day... and Jeremy was fine staying behind). As we're watching the game, I suddenly see lighting....four times... the game got called. By the time we were in the van, the storm was on top of us!

I got to drive home in the thunder and lighting, trees-bending over, windy mess (don't freak, Courtney, the Lord loves us!).

I only had to stop once for a tree across the road...and thankfully it was in between a farmer's long wrap around driveway... so we got by just fine and got home.... to no power! We were out of power for 10 hours more or less. Not too bad, but usually our power is back on within a couple of hours.

The kids did well with it all... we got out candles... Lucy and Emma were exhausted and went to bed before my kids...though I'm thinking mine probably should have gone to bed that soon too...since they really got cranky at each other later one. I felt bad for Lucy because the storm picked back up in the middle of the night with very bright lighting. It woke her a couple of times.. not all the way, just enough to know that those bright flashes in the middle of the dark were scary. But she calmed down when we'd go in and sit with her until she'd fall asleep again (which didn't take long because she was so tired).

My favorite storm thing yesterday: Lucy was telling us about black outs back home and what can and cannot be used (ie...stoves, fridges, microwaves, etc) She started by saying "when we have blackouts with white thunder..." I just love the "white thunder" comment. No thunder and lighting.. just white thunder! :) Very cute.

Okay... pictures and beach fun later... when I've got another minute... time to get things ready for the day... before more kids are up!

Some Cute, Sweet Things

Well... two days down... five to go. Okay, so that sounds awful...count down and all. The count down isn't really about the other children leaving so much as it has more to do with when I'll be on the next adventure, then the next, then then next... yes, it seems they have piled right up.... but that's not what I wanted to share.

Lucy is very concerned about why people feel the way they do. I'm not use to those kinds of why questions. Today I was having an especially hard time with Jeremy... Lucy didn't understand why I was so mad at him. So, in brief, I tried to explain the situation. She just looked at me, then offered a suggestion. (If I hadn't been so tired, I would have smiled...it was really sweet) Never-the-less, she continued to speak sweetly and politely as I tried to deal with Jeremy (screaming in time out on my bed while two babies tried to take a nap) while also trying to get lunch together. She looked me over and said "You look really pretty today." (And that time, I smiled.)

Emma has such a great smile. She likes to do things at her own pace and by herself.....though she's watched the others from a distance and then decided to join in a few games too. She and Bethie were born the same year, and so, they've spent a lot of time together. Between yesterday and today, I caught Emma (six times) at random saying "Bethie....(pause)....I love you." That makes Beth smile... and me too! Bethie, of course, replies in kind. But I just love the sweet, sincerity in Emma's words as she just randomly tells her.

I was letting Spencer have his binky (I'm not sure how much of the day he's really suppose to have it) this evening after dinner. While the kids were picking up, Jeremy found that Spencer had dropped it somewhere... He brought the binky to Spencer and said, as he put it in Spencer's mouth "Here you go, Spencer-Butter" (This, of course, is sweet and cute to me because that's one of Peter's nicknames... Peter Butter....see how it works)

Okay... well that's the fun that's made me smile most these last couple of days... the kids are so excited about getting out the octopus sprinkler tomorrow! The Beach (for the girls) on Tuesday with Gabi's class... and then... they don't know it yet... we'll celebrate Jeremy's birthday Wednesday! Thursday and Friday we'll spend making Father's Day gifts and then getting packed up! We've got a busy... fun.... week ahead.

The Prairie, The Mess, The Kids

Today marks the first of several days with 7 kids. No, they are not all mine... so, no, you did not miss anything! :) Some friends of ours are getting away for a little while, so we offered to take their children. Two girls and a boy... all friends with our kids.

Considering how little Bob has been able to be home to do anything with our own children over the last several weeks do to apartment renovation and repairs, our own children have gone into their own "coping" stages. Coping, of course, being used rather loosely. Jeremy is suddenly having trouble getting to the potty on time; Gabi is almost always crabby and cries at everything (even before you can talk); Bethie doesn't seem to understand what sleep is any more... and thus is cranky and crying most of the day; and Peter has decided mom can't be out of his site for more than 5 minutes, and most of the time has to be carried!

With this going on, I'm hoping the distraction of friends will pull them back together for a little while (since Bob still has a roof to replace)! Bob did take the morning off from the apartments to spend with the kids. And we'll be spending the whole day together tomorrow (originally Bob was going to travel to his speaking assignment without us so that I could be at our own ward working on Primary music....but this is more important for our children right now. So, someone else will be filling in for music).

Bob started by mowing the "prairie" out back.... with all the rain we've had, there hasn't been sufficient time to get the lawn mowed....and, of course (also because of the rain), it's grown rapidly! But with it freshly mowed, the kids will have a nice large yard to run around in...a swing set to play on.... balls to throw and kick.... a frisbee to work with...and whatever else their wonderful imaginations can come up with! Let's just hope the rain is done for awhile... they need to get outside!

Dare Devil

Gabi had another baseball game tonight; and since it was High Councilmen Thursday, I got to take her... and make everyone stay. I was hoping to actually watch Gabi...and did see her up to bat a couple of times...but the other kids very quickly found the playground that I didn't even know was near the field.

Peter loves the slide. There has always been one "smaller" slide that is actually one of those double slides every where we've been. He usually climbs up to it and then turns around sliding feet first on his belly. He loves it. But tonight that wasn't enough.

He was watching the older kids climb on those rounded over bar things that are just another way to climb up to the slide. He thought that looked like fun. So... he started up. I didn't even know he'd be able to get on the first rung... but there he was...three rungs up before I got near him. And he insisted on going all the way.... hanging onto the bars with a death grip so that I could not remove him. He did that a couple of times (I stayed right there because I didn't want him to fall...and made sure his feet landed in the right place)

But that wasn't all. The tallest slide there tonight was one that started over my head....and over my up-reaching arms. I know... I'm short....but still... he's only wearing 18month clothes right now. Anyway, he started at the lowest steps and climbed and crawled his way to that very top slide. I thought he'd turn around and come back, but he was too interested. He leaned out in the slide to try to see around the curve, lost his "balance" (he was on his knees) and started down the slide in great surprise and delight... head first. I caught him and got him turned as he came down the rest of the way.

I thought maybe that would have scared him a enough to stick with the smaller slides... but, ooohhhh nooooo, he had to go and do it again. Only this time he was grinning ear to ear because he'd figured out how to sit down, and then lay back to slide down. He started back for another run, but decided against it since the playground was suddenly over crowded with lots more kids... many who were climbing up the slide. That was just too much for him.

So... I guess.... what ever the other kids can do, Peter can too.... or, at least that's what he thinks!