Nov 18 2013

Around the Freeman House.

1. Sam and I on one of our walks.  In the afternoon when it is nice, and the baby girls are taking a nap and Kate is at school Sam and I go out on walks.  He loves it.  He always asks.  He notes if it is a nice day outside today.  Then suggests we go.  This day we went on a walk at a photo shoot location for later in the day.
2. I have the most handsome boy in the world.  I am right.  He is adorable.  In his sports coat ready for church.  I wanted a picture of his grown up self, then his sisters wanted to take pictures too.
3.  Taking pictures of Mari on Sunday. She snuck some chocolate chips out of the pantry and stored them in her pockets.  She thought that was clever until they melted all over her hands. We stayed home from church with sick Bethy. She has been very grumpy- I thought she may be sick.  We enjoyed a bit of one on one time- she kept making me be an elephant and riding me around the house.  She thought it was awsome.
4.   Bethy eats a cup. Sick Bethy..  When Jake came home from church three hours later HE suggested we take Bethany to the ER.  He has never thought any child was sick enough to take to the Doctors- let alone the ER.  I was hesitant.  Mostly because of the chaos the last time we took Bethany to the ER and we ended up at Primary Children's being bullied into submitting her to treatment we felt was not necessary.  I wasn't convinced she needed to be seen.  Until she started struggling to breath then projectile vomited all over the place.  Then I was panicked.  We left our other three children in our house alone and called my Mom to run over quick, and got over to the ER.  Telling you everything- not only did I leave my children unattended (it was only for like 10 minutes), I held Bethany in the car instead of putting her in her seat.  I have read so many stories of flu turning menegitis- and this is exactly what they had thought was happening the last time Bethy was very sick.  I held her all the way to the ER.  I really haven't ever thought my child might die in my arms until that drive over.  Saying that makes me sound crazy I know. But really.  She just seemed to be getting so much worse so fast..  A trip to the ER and the decided she only has the flu.  It seemed strange.  last time we were there we were saying "she is fine" and they were saying "she is going to die"  this time we were saying "she is going to die" and they were saying "no she is fine"   While we were there anyways we did some more urine culture for whatever is going on with her bladder and kidneys.  We were suppose to do the tests last week but never made it in.  So I guess that worked out.  She is still so sick.  She will only sleep in my arms and only for 20 minutes.  And cries when you pick her up, and cries when you put her down and is miserable. Poor sick and sad Bethy.
5.  Kate entered and art contest at school.  I let her have free range of a white canvas and all the art supplies. She ended up with a rainbow sky, glitter, ponies, everything you would expect from a 6 year old girl.  Today she came home beaming.  She had received a trophy and certificate and free pizza for her work.  She said she was the only one in her whole class to get an award.  She came in the door from the bus and said "I got my first trophy ever!"

November 7, 2013

I took Marianne to Disney on Ice yesterday.
It kind of seemed a little unfair to not take all the kids.  But the two oldests have both been before.  To Disney on Ice- more than once even.  And have both been to Disneyland two times. And this Minnie Mouse lover has never got to go.  That is what I told Kate and Sam anyways.  And they were happy for her and trying to get her excited.
During the day I told her I was going to take her to see Minnie Mouse.  She would say "nooooo"  in a teasing voice, because she thought I was teasing her.
We got ready to go and wore our full Minnie attire. She was the cutest Minnie there of course, and so said everyone.
We drove down, and parked and such.  Then we walked into the event center.  I love being with just one kid at a time.  I am a completely different mother.  We didn't hurry hurry hurry.  We kicked the leaves and looked at the lights and held hands.  When we got inside, Mari still had no idea what I was talking about.  She saw a poster of Minnie Mouse.  Exclaimed "Minnie"  and thought perhaps the poster was what we came to see?  And was super excited about it.  Then she saw the rows of toys and treats they sell.  She thought we came to see the toys about Mickey.  She looked and awed.  The vendor let her see one of the wands (I knew we were already getting one).  She played with it and loved it.  And liked the Mickey one over the tinkerbell one.  I paid while she played with it.  Then I said lets go, and she handed the wand back to the vendor.  She was just happy to see it.  She was over the moon when she got to keep it.  She would hardly walk because she just wanted to look at it.  We picked up a drink too and then found our seats.
Everything was just the best to her.  She still didn't understand what we were doing.  But she thought everything was fun. "lights" "water" she said and pointed to things and happily drank her drink as we waited for the show to start.  She thought the numbers on the backs of our chairs were amazing even.  Most of the pictures are from us just waiting because she sat in my lap once the show started. The place was pretty empty and we had amazing seats.
Then it started.  She was in awe.  At one point I thought she might actually go into shock or have a seizure from excitement. No really I did.  I could feel her little heart racing as I held her in my lap.  She clapped and clapped when she thought she was suppose to.  She waved and waved to every character that came by.  She named each character she could "Minnie, Mickey, Daisy, Donald, Goofy"  She really liked the jelly fish that came out during "Under the Sea" and then decided her wand was a jelly fish.  And tried to copy their movement.
There were a few scary parts and that is what she seems to remember from the show.  The last act was Captain Hook and his pirates.  When we left she said "too scary"  as if she thought we were leaving because it got too scary not because it was over- kind of like when Sam is watching a cartoon about super heroes that is too scary I make him turn it off.
We got some cotton candy, she thought it was weird and awesome.
She was perfectly behaved and in awe and beautiful the entire evening.
She was awake all the way home even though it was nearly ten at night.  Playing with her light up wand all the way home.
Then came home and told Dad all about it.

I was even more pleased with in the morning the other kids didn't seem jealous but were happy for her and asking her about it.  Sam even asked me what rides she got to go on, I think he thinks she got to go to Disneyland- and I was proud of him for not being angry.

Finding an excuse to spoil one child at a time was magical.  I was crying tears of joy at several points through out the night just watching Mari be so happy and having so much fun.  I am determined to find ways to spend more one on one time with my children.  I'm a pretty awesome Mom when they get me all to themselves.  Not just in the buying them stuff or taking them somewhere, but in the way I get to focus all my attention on them and take time with them and not rush whatever we are doing but experience it together.

Oct phone photos- Part 5

1. Me and my girls
2.  Sam trys on wigs at Target running errands with me.
3. More sam self portraits
4. Bethy girl
5.  Mari on her Halloween breakfast with mom and Dad
6. Sam and Bethy cuddling and telling secrets on the couch

Oct phone photos- part 4

We went over to the scarecrow festival at the Zermatt.  It was such a fun evening out with the kids.  Nobody whined.  We had fun looking at the scarecrows.  Then we went for two rides on the carosel.  Then we went to the near by grocery store who had free cookies for DARE week.  There was lots of dancing and smiling and having fun from the whole crew.    It was fun to pick two different animals on the carosel- in a row.  with no other kid in sight.  A whole carosel just for us. When we were pulling into the store to get Kate her free cookie for DARE week (the school gave out a braclet that got you free stuff at lots of different places around town)  Sam said " but I won't get one Mom because I don't have a bracelet right mom?"  not in a sad way, or whinny way, just stating what he thought was fact.  I told him we would see.  Knowing I would buy him one but happy about his patience and understanding.  The store gave them all a free cookie in the end.  Everyone was happy.