Sept 30 2012

Life has been so busy lately it has been almost two weeks since I blogged I think.
Busy and so good.   And we are welcoming the good days with open arms.

I have been doing pictures for people three or four days a week which is way more time than I should give to it, but it has been so much fun, and I know that winter is around the corner and then my opportunity to do pictures for people with decrease.  I set a goal to make enough money to buy a new bed and bedroom set for ourselves, and I met that goal in just two weeks.  I think my next goal is new mattresses for  all the kids since they have always slept on the mattresses me and my siblings slept on growing up.   Of course I've done my fair share of supporting when my better half started a business, but Jake has been over the moon supportive of me and my little business.  He has totally shown me up.  He is kinda of the best.  Well not kinda, he is IS the best.

These pictures are just some quick iphone shots of our last two weekends.  Kate said last week "everyday we do something special, we did something special three days in  a row"  I'm so glad all our special things are not lost on her.  Despite being busy we've managed a lot of fun as well.

Most of the pictures are from the chalk art festival we went to two weekends ago.  We actually just went to a shopping center for the splash pad, but lucky us, found a festival and street fair.  We played in the splash pad first.  Marianne was in heaven.  She was loving it, and giggling, and having the time of her life and drawing lots of attention for being just so adorable.  Sam also loved it, and Kate took some warming up to the idea of playing in the water in her clothes.
After the splash pad we changed the kids into dry clothes and got ourselves some chalk.  The kids thought it was a special thing to be able to color all over the side walk in front of the stores and shops.  They colored for a long time.  We walked around booths, met Cinderella, ate some dinner and then shopped at the Halloween store.  It was a really fun night with our super fun kids.
Of course the festival was in Provo too so we got to drive through the Provo Canyon on the way there and back.  The canyon is a little muted now, but last week it was magical.  Kate said "The mountains have rainbow colors now mom".  It was true.  Somehow we happened upon the most perfect fall there ever was, with temps in the 70's every day, little rain, crips air, gorgeous nights, and mountains bursting with color.

The next day we were invited by some friends to the park for a giant slip in slide.  I only have a movie of this, no pictures, but these friends built a slip in slide of tarps that was 80 or more feet long then but it down a hill at the neighbourhood park in our old neighbourhood   Then put a sprinkler at the top.  Everyone brought popsicles and bubbles and 40 or more kids under 8 years old slid down a slip in slide for hours on end.  Our kids thought it was the most fun thing they had ever seen.

Jake took Kate to a BYU football game this weekend.  She was so excited it was her turn since Sam got to go two weeks ago.  She dressed in her BYU cheer costume, packed her pom poms and according to Jake literally didn't stop cheering for four hours.  She game home excited to tell me all about it but very tired as it was 10 o clock at night.  No surprise her incredible enthusiasm for the Cougars brought on a lot of comments from fans nearby.

September 20, 2012

1.  M at frozen yogurt.  She's been extremely cute and loving today.  And loved the treat. First time I've given her any kind of ice cream.  It was a hit.  When the few bites we put in a bowl for her were gone she went right for her sister's sitting next to her.

2.  Sam asked me where he was when I was a kid today.  Except he knew the answer because he has asked before.  He says "was I watching you in heaven mommy?"  yes I tell him.  He asks if his kids are watching him from heaven right now.  I tell him yes.  He says he has 5 girls and 3 boys.  He always seems to be thinking about heaven and Jesus and good things and is our good reminder.

3.I let Kate pick out what she wanted to wear to school today instead of helping her pick it out with me.  She went to her room and took about 15 minutes.  She came out even with a matching headband and was very pleased.

4 & 5.  M can usually be found walking around the living room and play room with a chapstick in her mouth.  Her sister Kate has lots of chapsticks.  M always seems to find one and sucks on all the time.  Sometimes she gets lucky and gets the cap off and eats the chapstick too.  She is a walking machine but does like to walk around with a chapstick or at the very least a crayon or marker in hand.

September 17, 2012

It sure is smokey outside tonight.
I saw on KSL there are 10 or some odd fires burning north of us.
my eyes are burning
I'm not sure if we had a if you can't beat em join em kind of idea
but we decided to let the kids roast a marshmellow in grandma's fire pit for family night.
and then it was really smokey.
The kids enjoyed their marshmellows, then gave us an encore to the Mulan style production they have been  doing in the fire pit area all week.

Sweet Marianne was already asleep which is really too bad because I'm sure she would have loved to try a marshmellow.

September 16, 2012

I love this face.

And this sweet little girl.

My Maize Baby is hardly a baby any more.

She walks everywhere, and colors with crayons and eats with a fork

and prefers to play with the kids than to cuddle with me.

13 months today.

September 13, 2012

I have been looking forward to this day for weeks.  We reserved our tour at the new Brigham City Temple (thought nobody ever asked to see it and there were many people there without tickets for those wanting to go).  When we did the only time left available was for 8:15 am.  So instead of waking up and waking all our kids at 5:00. so we could drive the two hours there, we decided to make a real event of it and spend the night in a hotel.  So after Kate was done with school we packed everyone in the car and made the drive.  Everyone was in such a good mood and excited.
We stayed at the Days Inn.  When we arrived in Brigham City we stopped for dinner, and everyone again was so well behaved  Then we went and drove around. "There is the NEW temple"  Sam kept saying. He seemed the most interested.   Then we went to our hotel and tried to go to sleep.  Sleeping in a hotel room with three kids is never perfect, but it went well enough and we slept until almost 7:30. Then we quickly got dressed and grabbed the free hotel breakfast.
We drove to the parking lot where buses where busing people in.  The kids were super excited about riding the bus too.  And the kids looked adorable.  Sam by choice packed his purple bow tie, surprisingly because he hates ties, I even packed a back up set of clothing in something I was sure would not be a fight.  But he didn't argue and wore his church clothes proudly.  Kate too was proud of her clothing and kept pointing out to everyone that she and her baby sister "were not twins, but just had matching dresses, sweaters and leggings on" .
We arrived at the temple.
It is small and in the middle of the downtown area.
It is straight up, and bright white.
The tour started with a video in the garage.  As we sat the children were well behaved again.  Kate kept repeating the directions the bus escort had told us- "to be reverent, to only get on the "B" bus"
As the video ended Sam asked me "is Jesus behind that door"
My little boy has such faith.  I tried to explain to him that we would not see Jesus today.
I wish Sam, I wish.
He seemed disappointed.  After all we are always telling him the temple is Jesus's house.
I tried to explain to both Kate and Sam that though it is Jesus' house, it is rare to see him,   But that if they were quiet and listened they could hear him through the Holy Ghost.
Kate repeated that was what she learned that "the Holy Ghost could teach her if she was reverent" later tonight.
The tour continued. and we walked with our children into each room of the temple, trying to explain to them and share with them a special moment.
Kate was quiet most the time.  And finally got excited when we entered the Celestial Room.  Because there were very sparkly chandeliers, and she thought they were beautiful, and kept pointing them out to me.
I think my favorite thing was hearing about the peach blossoms and how they are integrated into all the decor, the carpet, the furniture, the paintings, the windows, because the area is know for peaches.  I tried to remember if I have noticed any other temples having so much local details.
Then we went outside and looked around.  The kids loved the fountain no surprise.
We took some pictures, and got back on the bus.  We were only there for less than 2 hours.
It made me really glad that we had made more of an event of it.  Maybe the kids will remember our temple trip a little more as it was more of an event than a quick trip.
I couldn't help from tearing up thinking about how special the day was to me.  Special to be in the temple with all my kids, and hoping that we can continue to be in the temple as a whole family again and again as they turn into adults.

September 8, 2012

I finally snatched Jake's i-phone so I could post about their Father Son day at the BYU game.
Samuel was so excited about going to his "Cougar Day".  He had a bunch of cougars papers that came with our tickets stashed in his backpack.  I believe I mentioned before how he and I had gone shopping and when I let him pick out a shirt he picked out something navy for the game with his Dad.
Well his day finally came.  Sadly Kate was very jealous, and when left at home with me threw royal fits about almost everything.
It was very hot so they left when BYU was clearly winning in the 3rd quarter.  When he got home all he really had to tell me about was that somebody got hurt.  I guess it made an impression on him.  I gleaned from Jake his special day also included a hot dog and a drink, and getting carried more than half a mile on Jake's shoulders.
I wish I could have been there too, but I am so glad they got a special day together.
Now Sam points out "basketball" stuff all the time with a renewed interest in the sport- though he really means football and just doesn't have his sports straight.

Lately when Kate goes to school, it happens to be Marianne's nap time as well, and Sam and I have "mom school"  Originally I had told Sam he would get to go to preschool this year.  But with the move, and still having some tummy issues, we decided it was best to wait until next year.  And I am really glad.  Because I love having "mom school" with him each day.  Usually in the morning he thinks of something he wants to learn about and tells me.  Then after Kate goes to school we sit on the couch side by side.   He gets out his pencil box, and his nice crayons.  We get some paper.  And we start with  some letter game.  I know Sam is smart but he doesn't always get the same recognition for being smart as Kate.  And I am learning that is not because he is not as smart, it is just because he has trouble being heard over Kate.  He is doing so well knowing all his letters, and sounds, all his shapes, all his colors, most his number, he can spell his name, and Kate's name, and is starting to learn how to sound out words and is starting to write certain letters, and numbers.  After the games he gets to pick anything he wants to learn about and we look it up on the computer and read about it and watch videos about it.  So far we have learned about tractors, worms, birds, owls, bears, trucks, fire engines two times. dinosaurs, and growing plants.  All from his own choosing.
I love seeing how much he knows.  I love how excited he is to spend time with me, and I love him cuddled up next to me feeling like the most important thing for an hour a day.

September 4, 2012

Kate did it.
Her 1st day of real school.
Kindergarten.

We got afternoon class. Which is just fine by me.  Having my kid dressed and feed by 8:15 is a lot harder.  Plus I'm sure to get a shower in myself and it is warmer by 12:40.
Kindergarten is every day.
Mondays from 12:40 to 2:20-  yeah what is the point?
and Tues thru Friday 12:40 to 3:25.

Jake and I got to take her together to her first day.
She explained all the reasons why she was ready on the way there
"I have a booster seat, I am potty trained and I am five"
She has deemed these the requirements I think based on that is why we tell Sam he can't go.
" You know all your letters and numbers, and are good at listening and making friends" I add

When we get to school she doesn't seem one bit nervous.  Except when a teacher talks to her and she points and asks me with a funny face "is this her?"

We find a friend we know from church and Kate is pleased to be paired up with her and sent to line up.
It is crazy crazy crazy.
Their methods for gathering the kids could be greatly improved on to say the least.
But she makes it.  I don't get to go inside.  They take them in after they are lined up.
I notice there are several kids bawling.
I wonder what that would be like?  There is no remorse for leaving home from Kate.

The two hours we are home for don't go as fast as I imagine.  We play in the yard then Sam and I work on some school stuff with the new school supplies I let him buy.

Sam and I go to pick up Kate.  It is pure chaos again.
I come up to Kate in a group of kids with her teacher.  When she sees me she grabs on to my arm and hugs it tight as we walk to the car.  Kate is not a super affectionate gal.  My heart swells when she grabs me.  She is excited to see me.  I am nervous to hear how everything went.
But I don't know why I'm nervous.
It was perfect sounds like.
And to top it off she actually had lots to say about it.
But first she asks if I brought Sam in the car.
Good thing I did I guess.
She tells me first about the tour they went on to the office where you go when you are sick, and the library.  She tells me she got to pick a place to sit and she sat by the church friend.  Then she tells me there was another girl with blonde hair she kept looking at thinking it could be her friend to but the girl was very shy.
She tells me they read a book, played with playdough, got to talk about their families, ate a cookie and had recess.
She explains that at recess she had the idea to  play school on the playground and pretned the fire engine (that is part of the play structure) is a bus.  She says that all the girls played with her, except for one who played pirates with the boys.  It sounded like she was the one planning the play.  And I don't doubt it for a minute.  I just hope she was kind about it.
She also tells me about how her friend brought a fun game to play while they waited for their moms.

The three of us go pick up a special made pizza at Papa Murphys for Kate's special day.  Sam sings "it is Kate's special day over and over again"

When we get home she recaps the school info again to Dad and then again to Grandma. I'm happy to hear new pieces.

And most of all I'm happy she is happy.  That is went well.
I can't wait for tomorrow and the next day and the next day
My Kate is amazing.

And I didn't cry.  Well not one tear rolled down my cheek, though I did get choked up several times.
Even Jake said it would have been hard to put her on a bus and just send her to school.
I'm a little bit sad of course for school to start.
Sad most of all because since Jake works for himself we get to determine our own schedule completely.  There won't be any afternoon picnics or mid weeks vacations like there has been.  They won't be any lazy days where we don't get dressed.  We have a schedule to keep.
I'm sad of course because I will only see Kate less from here on out.  Only 14.5 hours of school a week for this year.  15 hours where she won't be with me, and just more each year to come.
But I'm happy for her.  She is going to do so great and love it so much.  I'm happy to have one kid in school too.  It is basically impossible from me to take three kids alone anywhere.
I just know it is going to be a great year full of friends and fun for her.

Sept 1 2012

Uploading the iphone today.  Cute pictures from the month range between the states we've lived in this month.

1.  Sam and Jake ready for bed right before the move.  My boys are adorable.
2.  Maize at church.  I think she took this picture of herself playing with the phone/
3, 4, 5. Out to eat as a family at Pismo's in Fresno
6. Sam loves his honeydew.
7. Sam and Maize hold hands almost every time we are in the car.  It melts my heart.  Sometimes M holds Kate's hand on the other side as well, but not always.  She always holds Sam's hand.  Sometimes they even fall asleep in the car together holding hands.
8, 9.  M is a climber.  None of our other babies have been so into climbing.
10.  Kate cuts out a mustache she finds in a coloring book.  How does she know that mustaches are in?
11. Jake and Sam work on the car together all Saturday afternoon.  Sam calls the spark plugs "sparkles".  He may have too many sisters.  Good thing Dad will let him help with manly things like auto repair.
12. Sam shows off his monkey pj's.  The kids and I went school shopping last week.  They were both so good and excited to buy things.  I let Sam pick out  a t-shirt.  He picked a navy blue shirt with and light blue dinosaur on it.  I didn't know it at the time, but when he got home he told Jake he had picked it out for when he and Jake go to the BYU game.  So adorable.
13.  M kicking back eating a banana. She is such a grown up little girl now.
13.  Nothing beats a baby with messy pasta all over their face
14.  I live in a basement, but I still have the best view ever, even out the basement window.