Our Thanksgiving Adventures

So I mentioned a trip... well, my father got married over Thanksgiving break; so our whole family went out to visit. With my family being spread out, but all back that general direction, we took the whole week and visited both my Dad's family and my Mom's family. This meant a lot to me as we'd not been back since the move and I was really missing my own family. It was especially good to be able to have the whole family go, instead of just me and Jacob - which is what we had been planning for later on.


The kids were great for both flights - the way out was amazing! The way back required some reminders, but they were great! Even Jacob did really well. We flew out, rented a van for the first night to complete the first leg of the trip. After the wedding we rented another van to get us from one family to the next. We had help from friends and family with the remaining travel needs. I did not take many pictures of the actual traveling - I should have taken
pictures of the kids and their excitement at watching the airplanes come in. But I do have a few of the kids completely zonked out in the middle of the night in the van. That as interesting.....

I was just getting sick on the way out... and it, of course, hit hardest while out on our trip. Not only that, but I had not driven that particular route in a long time. So I gathered directions from my mother and tried to follow them... but there was one snag - the exit we took was one too high and we ended up on the road an extra hour...whoops!


The kids had a lot of fun outside at my Dad's. They also enjoyed watching a few movies. Since they had recently learned about Popeye (from the cartoon) I thought it would be fun to watch the actual movie! It was funny and they seemed to enjoy it. We also watched a few others with Robin William's in them that same day. The kids also discovered that they love the game LIFE.... where you get L -I -F-E cards...



It was really neat to go to the DC Temple - I'd never actually been insides it. It was huge! I only wish we'd had time to go through for a session - but time constraints being what they were (and a nursing baby waiting on the outside) prohibited such an adventure this time around. However, we're now toying around with the idea of going through each Temple in the US before our mission - but that will be many years away!



I loved being at the sealing. I loved listening to what the sealer had to say and the reminder of what convenants we made when we were married. What a great opportunity to mentally renew! And it was so good to be in the Temple with my dear husband again - it's been a long times...
nearly a year due to pregnancy and new baby!




We had a Thanksgiving meal at my Dad's the night before the wedding. And then we had another one at my Mom's on Thanksgiving day. It was nice to be with family for both those mini celebrations - normally we just stay home and do our own thing.


Gabi and Beth were each able to help Grami Cretia make pumpkin pies. They had a lot of fun doing it, and while taking turns, they also colored and cut out place markers for everyone. This was all done while waiting for my sister and her two little girls to arrive!

Her little ones are really very cute - and since our family rotates names for presents at Christmas time, we had them this year. The little ones opened their gift before they left so my kids could see them. They loved it.. especially the flower clips! (Even Braeden, my nephew, wanted one for his own hair, until he actually was wearing it and decided it wasn't all that exciting after all).


My brother and his family and my other sister and her boyfriend also came - but that was on Thanksgiving day. It was nearly, but not quite, complete as there was one sister who was unable to make it out... so almost all my family in one trip!


The girls were tickled to have nails painted - a combination of Tia, Grami and Mommy working on their nails and even doing a little nail art. Kind of fun to do - although it takes an amazingly steady hand and someone who is really good at doing tiny little figures on tiny little nails! It was a special thing that the girls don't get to do very often.



Before we left my mom's house, we got a few pictures of her with my kids - okay... with my kids and Braeden. I suppose if we'd been on top of things we would have done those pictures the day my sister and her kids were there so my mother would have had a copy of a picture of all "her" grandchildren (not including her's by marriage). Oh well... it was still nice. In addition to that, we also got a picture of my and my mother together - it will eventually go on my wall. (I so have to get organized there).

We spent one day with my grandparents (thanks, of course, to Uncle Bill and Aunt Carolyn). They live right beside my grandparents - so we spent the night with them, spent the day with grandparents - my cousins coming over to play and watch movies and eat dinner too. I stayed up way too late talk with Aunt Carolyn - but it had been so long and we were waiting for Uncle to return from work (which we all were disappointed that he had had to do that).


The time there was much to short... much to short every where - and yet we were grateful to return home! Because regardless of where you live and where your family is, your home is the place where there is routine... and it was good to return to that routine. And though the kids were very happy to be able to see Grandma and Grandpa Nielsen again, they were also missing Grami Cretia - I love the bonds that connect our children to their grandparents.

I have felt much more at peace and much more calm about being here again. It's so good to know that visiting is an option - that it is possible. Maybe not as often as we might like or even for as long, but it was good to know it is indeed possible. Sometimes I feel I leave things behind never to be able to return to them. This was a healing trip for me. A huge blessing. One I will always treasure (even though I was sick).

Thanksgiving Feast

Every year the kids at school have a little thanksgiving feast. Grades K-2 are the Natives, while the 3rd grade are the Pilgrams. Gabi, being in 3rd grade, was having her last feast - and that meant she was able to help prepare the meal.


Peter and I went down and helped out. I taught several students how to peel potatoes - Peter quickly became the finished potato dropper - meaning he took them when they were peeled and put them in the pot. Jacob sat happily watching the other kids put together a pumpkin cake and then promptly went to sleep.


This was the day before we were to leaving... the meal was prepared, and then the day we left, the feast was held. The kids lucked out and we actually didn't leave until right after the feast.

Autumn / Halloween Enjoyment

I'm behind... but thought you might still enjoy seeing a bit of our holiday fun!

The kids had a field trip out to the Pumpkin Patch. This was Gabi's last year for this field trip and she's already asked me to take her out next year anyway. They had fun and I was able to take Peter and Jacob along too. The kids got to go on the wagon ride, check out the old tractors, see the animals, listen to Halloween stories, get a snack, race through the hay maze, and get a pumpkin. Since Peter was not part of the school group, he did not get a pumpkin there - but he had a nice one grown right in the garden.

The next week was Trunker Treat - and seeing that Halloween was on Sunday and we weren't going to go Trick or Treating this year, we decided it was worth the crowd to go. The kids were so excited!


Normally I make costumes for the kids - although last year I did buy a couple of them. This year, well, I've been swamped with other projects in addition to having the new baby, so I opted for easy. Thanks to a couple of friends, my four older kids were outfitted in costumes they just loved! I made a couple of adjustments to Gabi's angel wings and made a crown of ribbon for Beth's princess costume. Jeremy required nothing - Stitch came complete! And Peter, the Pirate, just needed something warm underneath. And Jacob was able to be Little Mr. Roo - you know, Roo of the Winnie-the-Pooh crowd - which I did make.... just not this year. It was the costume I'd made for Jeremy when he was a baby five years ago! The costume was a little big - as you can see with the hood!



They had a great time doing the "cake walk" and winning cupcakes. And, of course, going around and around and around trick or treating from car trunk to car trunk. Bob and I also dressed up - I have a picture, somewhere, of Bob as the "ever prepared Boy Scout" but once again, there is not picture of me... I was a pioneer woman.


The next night was the annual "Have Dad Carve My Pumpkin Face" night. The kids get there pumpkins out, sit down beside them with paper and pencil and draw the face they really want. Then Bob goes from kid to kid and cuts out their design (sometime talking them through alternations such as ultra thin hair that just won't work). Anyway, this is what they came up with this year!

Music

After dinner at grandma and grandpa's, Peter comes home and pleasantly begins singing "Keep the commandments".....

And now he's rapping it.

Soccer Season

Soccer season is over.... and I never blogged about it! Life with a new baby (and four other children) has certainly kept us busy. I'm sure I have better (more active) pictures - but I wanted to get this up soon... so there's just one of each kid.

Interestingly enough, though we had two teams to deal with, all three kids were the same colors - and they went in number 2,3,4. I kept thinking I would get a picture of them all together, but that just never happened.

Due to Jacob getting his first two big colds during the season, I was only able to see a few of the games. And I took the camera to even fewer - one active preschooler and one little baby didn't leave much space for hands on a camera.

Bob coached Beth and Jeremy this year - he's thinking about coaching their team again next year and adding Gabi's team to his plate. We'd work together if that happens... but we'll see. He really enjoys coaching and the kids (and parents) all really seem to enjoy his methods.


Gabi bumped up to the next level this year - and she really picked up her game too! She's always enjoyed the sport, but she's not always been completely aware and good with positioning... that changed this year. She was very good at that. She even found that she (most of the time) really enjoys being goalie too - I think she must have played goalie for at least half the season.


Jeremy was just so excited to be playing on a team this year! Like his picture? Note he's not in a traditional soccer stance... but rather a FOOTBALL one....shhhhh, don't say anything.... he likes soccer enough and I'm not ready to think about concussions and tackling.... but if he decides (some day) to go that direction, well, I guess it's just in him. (He has no idea that this position looks anything like Football). He was a speedy little guy - and learned how to get to the ball and get it out of there.


Beth was less of a dancer on the field this year. She was much more interested in the ball - that is, getting to it to get it out of there, not just to get to it with the others. I think, having played last year and having had a year's growth, that she understands better the "game" of soccer and not just the "joy" of soccer. She was still happy to out there and happy to play. - The picture of her is not active... because (with the little thumb nails) I couldn't guarantee I'd be uploading one of her otherwise.... but I do like to take pictures of them not just on the field.


As for Peter... well, he had a hard time being on the side lines - he can't wait until it's his turn. But for all that, he did really well. We learned to take snacks for him, and his workbook, and to let him have space to run and be silly. He was a huge help in running water bottles to our kids when I'd end up carrying them to the field instead of kids. And he LOVED to make me nervous by running down the stairs to the parking lot and then stopping very suddenly right at the bottom before running out! I'd always end up yelling for him to stop - and he'd always turn around laughing with that huge grin of his.

Jacob was great... most of the time he slept in the sling. Then he learned to sleep with friends holding him. He was completely okay with that since he just loves to interact - and he was able to sleep any where. The picture I choose of him was actually on my lap - his stomach muscles are really strong, he's pulling himself up towards me..... now if he'd only realize he had that much strength while on his tummy, maybe he'd learn to be happy there and to roll from place to place... then again, maybe I like him just enjoying people and not being so mobile yet!

Because That's Gross!

This morning - Bob working at the computer, me nursing the baby, kids having a break from chores to eat a popcorn ball from trunker treat - Peter says to Jeremy:

"Don't EVER let a girl kiss a boy! That's disgusting!"

And Bob (from the other room) Thumbs up! "That's Right!" and a little quieter "That's my boy!"

He still Cracks Me Up

Peter still makes me laugh... he probably always will... most of the time I'm not on the computer when he says something and with "post pregnancy brain" still prominent, well.. I don't always remember to record it.

Today I was trying to remember some things he said... this is what I can recall:

He's favorite expression (of late) is: "way back in the old days..." (He's three!)

It makes me laugh every time!

Decades Day!

It's started... the yearly school special day things... oh, I guess that's commonly known as spirit-day and happens several times a year....

First.. .well, I was annoyed... we found out less than 48 hours before it was suppose to happen. No big deal it it's wear a hat or crazy hair day or something like that.. but no... it was Decades Day! So what would any mother do? Go crazy combing the house for items that are now "dated" that she just loved and couldn't part with (because, of course, she's now officially "old")....

Not this mama....

We left most everything not needed when we moved.... thus, nothing to really work with!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And seeing that Wednesday afternoon was filled with dance, and soccer and then Thursday was the same... well, that didn't really leave much time to "figure something out" and make phone calls to random people to see what else they might have stashed away in their closets, or attics, or basements... or wherever one hides such precious items!

I figured Jeremy would be easy enough - a pair of pants, and white T-shirt... roll the pant legs with plenty of sock showing... roll the shirt sleeves (nice and wide)... but omit the pack of cards that normally mocks as the pack of cigarettes... grease the hair and Bam! A greaser... 1950's done!


1980's might work out well... baggy T-shirt knotted to the side, crimped hair (but no crimper), front forward side pony tail and huge bangs sprayed to death and pants in that ridiculous "make them as tight as you can on the ankle" roll (yes I did that).. though I realized the last was only just coming into play and was a much bigger part of the 1990's.


But what about the other... maybe both would be 1980's....

So, off to the store I went (not for Decades Day) to get something else to finish another project I'm helping out with for Gabi's class. All the time I'm considering what I might have and how to dress them up (how cute it would have been to have them each from a different decade... but, really, there was no time to consider that).

And there it was... the poodle applique! And thus the poodle skirt evolved in my head - it's simple enough... I can whip that up... a button down shirt (I think we still have one of those somewhere) and I'm certain we have a simple sweater. I know we have ribbon. Done...



Turns out I was silly (being a bit over tired and with a headache and two boys in tow) and got the wrong fabric... I was planning a mock poodle skirt.... nope, the real deal it was... that meant hemming. The fabric - turned out there was a reason it was cheap... harder to work with.... But, I did it... I knew I could... and Beth was, of course, informed that she would also be a 50's girl for Halloween.... I don't make costumes twice! (And Gabi is getting to be a pioneer because that's what she needs for her field trip coming up)

So morning comes (after going to bed at 1am and getting up twice with baby)... Gabi was no problem.. we braided her hair the night before..... but man I wish I'd had one of those large (huge) rolling curling irons... her hair would have stood up better. She was a good sport - though she HATES hair spray. No, I didn't do the blue eye shadow... I totally should have! And better yet, white washed jeans... who would have thunk it? She had a pair in her closet... not exactly full length, but big enough that they seem it and not a straight white wash - it had some weird white circles in there too... but it worked. No crazy folded tight ankle cuff things. Of course, we only have white socks around here or she would have had layered, brightly colored ones!


Beth was sooooo happy to be "pretty" - but the button down shirt didn't seem to be with us any more (probably out grew it last year) and I couldn't find a sweater without a hood! Seriously... what's with the few sweaters we have ALL having hoods? (Though I know there should be one somewhere from Gabi's baptism without a hood). Oh well... no sweater... a cute white shirt will do... and then a ribbon in her hair with the ends curled under.... (but notice the skirt... no poodle... I swear.. .it's on there... I just didn't have anything to make the skirt poof out... we'll get that fixed before Halloween). And we'll likely do the hair in the curly pony tail with the scarf ribbon thing instead.



Jeremy... oh, Jeremy... nice dark pants, bright white socks, white shirt... easy, easy.... but no.... it took him over 40 minutes to get dressed... I quickly rolled everything and then attacked his hair.... oh boy! Spray it till it's drenched... (I don't have gel around here) then load it up with mousse - then spray it like crazy ... and add finishing cream (which I knew would keep the "wet shiny look").... should have been fast and simple, right? Fast... sure (for the hair).... but simple it was not! He literally screamed the entire time I was "greasing" his hair! "I HATE the way this feels! It's gross! STOP that! It feels weird!".... I guess there is no question, Jeremy will NEVER use hair products by his own free will and choice!


Anyway... decades day is done... we got through... everyone knew who they were... they got great compliments... one Halloween costume down (mostly).... and they all hit the bath or shower right after school to bring them back to 2010 in time for two baptisms! WOW!

Apple-Saucer

Jacob HATES - I mean really HATES - to be on his tummy! My others all got frustrated but dealt okay with it. Jacob HATES it... he screams nearly from the beginning of being put on his tummy. We get lucky every so often, if he's really well rested, his stomach is still fully enough (though not immediately after eating), and then only for about a minute, maybe two. He's been able to move forward and backward since about two weeks - just not by will! He's got really strong legs and his arms just don't seem to have much purpose for him. He seems to understand hands, but he's not quite connected the hands-are-linked-to-the-body-by-arms deal yet.


But, just because he doesn't like to be on his tummy doesn't mean he's content to be still. Okay, he does like to relax, snuggle and just observe - but he's also very excited to be involved with other people. Has always loved being with people. Insists that he needs to be with us for dinner - though is great about sitting (watching intently) for me to get through most of my dinner before insisting he be on my lap to watch eagerly while everyone finishing eating!


But, although he doesn't like to be alone and he doesn't like to be on his tummy, he does love to be in the Excer-saucer. Not all the time, and not left alone. But he enjoys being upright and even turning himself around a bit.


During these wonderful times, Peter will usually play with him and talk to him. Peter calls it "Jacob's Apple-saucer".


As a side note, Jacob had a nother wellness visit - he's 15 pounds, 24 1/2 inches long! Growing fast still!

General Conference - Oct 2010

I know I'm a bit late on posting this - that's what happens you have a new baby and your schedule (or rather the family's schedule) is rather full. But seeing that General Conference is ALWAYS something I love and enjoy - I just couldn't skip it!

We were able to enjoy it from the comfort of Bob's parents' home. The children had it on in a different room where they could be a little noisier and play with toys while they listened. It's hard to sit through 4 sessions 2 hours each for little kids. What I love about this is that we can enjoy the conference and actually hear what is being said, but when we talk about it after, he kids actually contribute with information they have heard! It's a great way to do conference.


This time, the kids had an absurd number of legos to work with. In the HUGE pile were a bunch of little lego men - when I say a bunch, I mean over 150! (The kids counted them and added them up). So, what do you do with lego men during General Conference? You make missionaries - of course! So there were over 150 missionaries all ready to "ship out" in the various modes of transportation available. (Note the pictures throughout the post).


This conference was (of course) incredible! There are so many "favorites" that it just has to be dubbed a favorite all around! I especially love talks which speak to the family, how to strengthen and protect the family, how to help with parenting, etc. There were many of these.


There were also some great ones on missionary work - the need to prepare now! It struck my heart and I know that we're doing what we can to be prepared for the future - so many years away it might seem crazy to consider it, but seeing how fast time as parent goes by, it will be here all too soon!

And being a teacher in Relief Society, I loved the talk on teaching. How to better prepare for our lessons, how to be ready to use the Spirit and how to have the Spirit readily with us.


I also enjoyed the Relief Society Broadcast the weekend before - especially for the women! Messages that we need to hear - information to help us better understand our divine roles as women and mothers!

So - for anyone interested - here are a couple of links to the talks! You can read them or watch them or just listen. They are wonderful! They are inspiring! They are uplifting!

General Conference - text, audio and video

Relief Society Broadcast - text, audio and video

I have beloved quotes, but I don't really have the time to list them right now... hopefully I'll be able to share them soon... but if you're curious, just click the above links and read or listen or watch conference for yourself!

I Had A Birthday

I had a birthday... yes, another one... yes, I'm older.... I don't feel it though (I've always felt tired and rundown and like I'll never catch up... what's new with that)!

My birthday lands in a time of year that is always overbooked in our family and so we never really do anything for it. This year I was excited to learn that for once none of us had obligations! The plan - to go hiking!

I was excited... Peter wanted to help make a cake so we were going to make an ice cream cake. And we were going to go hiking (it's been years- not as long as family camping, but still)!

And then....

Gabi found out about her soccer tournament. Well, she was going to skip it so we could do what I wanted... she's really very sweet!

And then....

Jacob just kept getting worse. He wasn't getting well rested with all the on the run stuff we were doing, and it was decided that he really needed to just stay at home for a while.

So....

A friend made a cake to share at craft group a few days before my birthday - very yummy and reminded me of grasshopper pie!

And then the day arrived and I sent Bob off with Gabi so she could enjoy her tournament while the baby got some more rest. They brought home stuff to make ice cream sundae cake - and Peter, Bob and I put that together. We enjoyed a piece with the kids then put them to bed. Next came friends for a game of Ticket To Ride with more yummy ice cream cake!

The next day, we gathered at Bob's folks for a wonderful dinner (which included stuffed mushrooms... yum, yum, yummy) and cheesecake!

So - I'm a year older... and no, I'm not posting pictures. I don't like any that Bob took on my birthday and I didn't take the camera to my in-laws....

Not as planned... Oh well... that's all part of motherhood... but what a yummy, sweet part it was!

P.I.T.A. - YUM

My friend has this amazing chicken salad recipe! I LOVE it! So I got the recipe from her and kept saying I was going to make it and never really got around to it. It's the kind with chunks of chicken, grapes, almonds, etc. Doesn't go so well on normal bread... so, I finally made the salad and decided I needed bread that works - enter Pita Bread...


Peter and I made pita bread- he loves the pockets! "Pocket Bread" was his favorite for chicken salad, for shredded cheese, to eat by itself, and to have PB & J (okay, he didn't get as far as the last one)!

But why stop there? If you're going to make pita bread, you might as well make pita chips - right? We thought so - so there you have it! A large bowl of pita chips eagerly awaiting the children's arrival from school! Oh so yummy! - And gone without a complaint! And gone before Daddy could try any.... I made more later and we enjoyed them (without kids) topped with bruschetta!


Now we're out of pita bread and thus no more chips... I think I might have to make some more this week! Yummy, Yummy! (And oh so easy!)

And It Happens Again

While Bob was on a camping trip - with school kids - Bethie and a friend managed to break the light shade - the one on the ceiling in her bedroom - it was glass - it fell - it shattered - and splittered.

The highlight - when she told me that the "lamp just fell and broke" (which I needed more clarification to understand - she doesn't actually have a lamp in her bedroom) - My first question was "what were you throwing up there?" - **If I only had the camera** - Beth really does have the cutest "I've been caught" face!

It was a snuggler - amazing how much damage a soft animal can do - good thing we don't have any real ones.

Now, what will break next month?

A New Train

Playing at a friend's house today, Peter discovered a "new" train and tracks and was so excited. He insisted that I come and take a look at what he'd found - and informed me they were new - and that it drives the track all by itself and then said "Yeah, it's the Chinese Train!"

Where did he get that?

Sick

He doesn't look sick...
He doesn't act sick...
But he sure does sound sick!

Poor baby!

Mixed Up Words

Apparently it's not just the kids around here who say funny things....

While singing the 9th verse of "Follow The Prophet", instead of saying "you can gain direction all along your way if you heed the Prophets follow what they say" I managed to sing "if you FEED the prophets" and then, because it's not just mommy brain this time, Bob managed to sing "Follow the prophets, follow the prophets, follow the prophets don't go AWAY" - instead of "astray"....

I couldn't help it... I'm too tired and I was just laughing too much to finish singing.

The Cold Goes Around

Baby has been sick - you know, the cold I told you everyone else had, well he got it - Of course!

He's actually handled it well - he sleeps more than the others did when congested. And though I've still suctioned him out during the day, as of last night I did not have to bring him out of the room (closing all the bedroom doors) to suction him at night (trying to keep his screaming during such from waking the kids). He's still happy and joyful - though certainly enjoys snuggling and "cat napping" more during the day time.

Anyway - we're doing what we can to keep up with the house while getting into the full swing of the fall craziness - and, though tired, at least we're getting some sleep.

Teeth

We tried out MyJobChart this past spring / summer. It worked well.. then it kind of went by the way side - it's hard to keep track when you always have to go on line to do it.

Yesterday Peter happened to go onto the site, logged himself in, and I listened to him tell me all that he had done as he was checking them off. It was hard not to laugh when he turned to me and said "I brushed my morning teeth!"

I didn't know he had morning and night teeth!

First Week Of School

We survived it! Everyone in their own way... and now most of the family are sporting colds - had no idea they were in fashion right now! =) But, for fun, here are some of the highlights.

Day one was odd around here. Neither Peter or I could quite figure out what to do - though the quiet was enjoyable. The older children all loved school. Although the following comments were heard:

G: "3rd grade is going to be so fun! It's going to be awesome!" She then proceeded to tell me every planned special activity - yes, it certainly sounds to be a ton of fun this year. "I hate the beginning of school!.... I haven't seen my friends for a long long time and all I want is to be at school so I can see them, not home!"

J: "School was okay. But not as fun as the last time." (in reference to the mini day) "We didn't get any free choice today!.... I got three recesses!"

On day two, Peter was happily playing with home school toys while I finished sewing Beth's backpack. Suddenly he exclaims "It's time to go get the kids!" - it was 10:30am. Turns out, he misses them and wanted to have them home to play with.

Later in the week Beth was heard to say "I can't wait to get to school! Maybe I'll get more Skittles! There's a Desk Fairy and when she comes and our desks are nice and clean she leaves us a treat! I don't know if she's real or not, but I think she is because the Tooth Fairy is real!"

Peter and I went to the library and then a picnic at the park with friends in the middle of the week. He had so much fun helping to pack our lunch and so much fun playing with his friend that he didn't care that his siblings were at school that day. In fact, the next morning he asked when we were going to get our lunch together for our picnic... guess we'll be doing that again soon.

We celebrated the end of the week with a family movie night..... and then they all got sick with this cold (on some level). Thank goodness it's a three day weekend - one extra day to kick it before going back to school!

Skittles And Scraps Grand Opening

My friend Courtney has been designing digital scrapbooking supplies and blogware for several years now. She's been selling stuff at a couple of different digital shops, but has just gone completely out on her own. She's just opened her own shop and is having a huge GRAND OPENING SALE! 40% off everything and if you spend $10 or more, you can take an additional 10% off!

All her stuff is really cute - even if you don't digital scrapbook, you should go over and take a look!

SKITTLES AND SCRAPS