Kate is 7

Kate turned 7.
She certainly is my party girl.  She was planning her party for weeks, and then likes to be a part of every detail.
It has been fun to watch her transition this year to really a school age kids.  Full day school, which comes with school lunch and recess and homework and being gone so much.
She loves it and teases me that I'll miss her too much while she is gone playing with her friends.
And she seems to have a lot of them, she is not shy and will talk and play with any kid.
She runs around the neighborhood with handfuls of kids too.
At school I've got to peek at her a bit helping in the class.  She is responsible.  And kind, and hardworking.
and super smart of course.  At the top of her class in almost every subject.
At home she has two sides.  One that is super helpful and sweet- making each sibling smile and laugh, giving them gifts.  One that is a bit more of an attitude.  Mostly talking back and arguing especially about chores.
She is not just a party planner- but an everything planner.  Counting days until certain events, planning calanders and always looking ahead to the next thing.
And she is silly.  She is always making silly faces, trying to make kids laugh and putting on dance shows.
She is very self aware too.  She know what she is good at, and what others are better at- and it doesn't bother her because she recognizes her own talents.  I think that is a great quality I hope she keeps.
Some favorites and facts

Fav color?: "turquoise"
fav thing to do?: "ballet or just write regular dance"
fav food?:  "hawaiian pizza I had today"
best friend?: "diama- he is in green group just like me" (green group is the smart reading group)
tell me more about your friends: "that they are friendly"
fav thing about school? "MATH!"
fav thing about home?: coloring
what do you want to be when you grow up? "you KNOW.  and artist... and a ballet dancer.... astronaut"
I thought you wanted to write books I asked (hence the library) "that is my fourth choice" she ssays.
fav book? "you KNOW its a kind of chapter book... those Light in the Attic kind of chapter book" (she means Shel Silverstien
tell me about you? "I have blonde hair and blue eyes, and I have white skin, I am good a twirling"
what do you like about you? "that I am really light" "that I am really smart"
if you could have anything in the world " a gold car made out of gold"
if you could do anything for one day "is do a hundred backflips"
if you could only eat one food forever  "chocolate"
if you could change one thing about the world: "to not do chores"

we went to the library for her pictures. She was most concerned that I would forget the books she wanted to check out.  Her favorite part was picking out book or maybe actually riding the elevator.  She tried to please almost too hard.  After we checked out books we snuck to the snow cone shack for a snow cone and a sugar cookie.  She sincerly told me a big thank you for taking me there and we sat and enjoyed our treats together.   I love this Kate of mine.  It is a great thing, to  love an older child.  Unlike a baby who you can't help to love, an older child  you love in a new way.  Knowing their imperfections and more so their amazing strengths and capacities.  I see in Kate her desire to be obedient and helpful, I see her confidence, and her friendliness I see her ability to lead others.  I see her love for her siblings. and if makes me love her, not just because she is mine, but because she is awesome!

May 13, 2014 iphone clear

1. Bethy in a couch fort the kids made
2.  Bethy helps me in the flower beds
3. Bethy's first real swing.  In a friends backyard over for a play day
4. Kate and Sam helping scoop dog poop in the yard.
5.  Sam helps Dad put together the new picnic table.  I told the kids that if they helped me do some chores in the morning I would put the table together and they could do their Lego's and Rainbow Looms outside on it.  They really want to play outside with these things on a table like our next door neighbor does???  But then I opened it and it was way harder than I thought, so Jake came home for lunch and helped me fulfill my promise.  Of course Sam wouldn't leave his side
6.  Bethany tries out popcorn for the first time.  She is kind of a ravenous beast... oh you know like the other three are now.  Basically she never stops eating \
7-8  Bethany's amazing eyelashes. All our kids have had amazing eyelashes- surely not mine. but I think hers take the cake!
9-10.  The garden boxes.  So much progress. Jake (with Sam by his side) built these boxes for me.  There are 3 boxes 6ft by 3 ft.  and 2 boxes that are 8ft by 2ft.  Which means I have a total of 86 square feet to garden in.  I plan on trying out square foot gardening which means I will have more than 86 plants.  Then Sam and I spent an entire week of morning baby nap time covering the borders with weed paper and shoveling all the gravel.  It has since been planted with the cool crops- peas, spinach, beets, carrots, radishes, and strawberries.  We have strawberry blossoms (because they came that way from the neighbor who gave them to us) and radishes so far growing.  We should see green starts from most of the rest this week.
11.  Marianne gets her first hair cut not from me.  It was by my friend who cuts hair in her kitchen, but it felt pretty special.  Kate got one too and it was her first hair cut not by me.
12. A picture Kate too on my phone of Sam playing on Jake's phone.  I think they are phone obsessed.
13.  Marianne gets dressed for the day.  She dresses herself.  And often with a lot of extra stuff.  The girls have a dresser in their closet, clothes hung above the dresser, and then shoe organizer clear pockets that hang on the door that is full of other clothes- like tights, and socks, hats, hair bows and swimsuits..  Mari gets pants and shirts out of the dresser to wear herself, but she always take a scan of the accessory pocket and usually picks out a few.
14.  Jake and Bethany watching a soccer game
15. Kate, Sam and Mari are getting better and better at playing all together.  This is some kind of play or well really who knows what they are doing.  They are usually playing something silly, and it usually involves dancing and costumes.
16 & 17. Me and Bethany ready for soccer games-  Spring soccer has been stormy!
18&19. Sweet Bethany in the tub.  I have more pictures of Beth than anyone else, but that is because she is usually at my side.  She is kind of a momma's girl, plus if I don't have her with me and engaged with me she is getting into things like the toliet or the dishes.
20.  Sam playing basketball.  This guy is SOOOO into sports.  Kind of finally!  He spent the better part of his first five years mostly into tools and tractors- which is cool too, his Dad is into tools and tractors, but also his dad really loves sports- so it has been really fun to have his only son finally into sports.  He loves soccer, basketball, football, skiing, biking, running, basically anything.  And he is getting more capable at these things too.  He often drags his basketball hoop into the living room and does running dunks into the hoop and then falls backwards onto the couch.
21.  Kate's drawing one day of a colonial doll in pastels.  She is SUCH a good artist.  AMAZING!!!  Way better than I am as a 32 year old.  Recently they did self portraits at school and Kate's was so acurate and artistc.  She included little endearing details like a mole and freckle, rosy cheeks and just a little serious smile.  it had a totally different feeling to it than all the others hung from classmates near by with rainbows and long hair and big u smiles.  Hers was serious moody artist type work... well for a 7 year old anyways.
22.  Bethany brushes her hair.  I never brush her hair- she doesn't really have enough to brush, but Bethany has observed her two sisters- who are both obsessed with doing their OWN hair all the time, and now when she finds a brush left out by those two sisters, she knows exactly what to do.  It is adorable. She is mimicing a lot now, and even folds her arms and closes her eyes with us when we pray.
23.  My mother's day breakfast the kids made me.  Our mother's day weekend was crazy busy.  I participated in the neighborhood yard sale and we had soccer on Saturday. I told the kids if they helped me organize all the stuff downstairs in the storage basement that any money we made at the garage sale could go to their Disneyland/Legoland trip they are trying to earn.  But it still was me doing so much work- it was by far the hardest I have ever worked for $200.  That night Jake installed my new light I bought for the kitchen (I have bought and installed and taken down a few) chancing my mind, but I think we are sticking with these finally.  Sunday the kids made me breakfast in bed. Then I got tons of sweet crafts and cards they had made me.  Jake also remembered that I wanted some new kitchen baking utensils.  I didn't get anybody ready for church and I didn't get anybody ready for bed.  I also didn't feed anybody any meals, Jake made a delicious dinner and then I took a nap on the couch.  It was a great day where Jake and the kids were so kind to me, but really it wasn't SUCH a special day because everyday they are so good to me and treat me like  a queen.
24. A pictures of her Panda Bear Mari had me take.

May 6, 2014

This girl of mine is the best!
This morning shows her true self so well.
In her crib when she wakes up she yells "Dad!  I'm awake now"
Dad is at work already so I go and get her.  "Dad still sleeping mom?" she asks me. I tell her he is at work.
I change her diaper She says "now get dressed mom?"
She gets dressed (mostly on her own)  and includes a headband and two hair accesories on her wrist and calls them bracelets.
She finishes dressing by putting socks on.  On her feet and hands "I'm a kitty mom"  she says.
"We go to Kohlers today mom"  Yes I tell her, and then she repeats it to herself several times "I go to Kohlers today"
She says "mom" after everything.  She uses it like punctuation.
She carries around a heart Valentine that Kate received and then re-gifted to Mary.  Mary has been carrying it around often since Valentine's Day.  She feels like it is so special.
She sings to Bethy "what does the fox say"
She goes and get a ceramic bird that is a decoration on my dresser.  She has named the bird "five" and wants it.  She tries to sneak it everyday.  When she is sitting on the couch petting it. I ask her to go put it away.  She asks "in your room mom, or my room mom?"  See she wants it for her own.
She asks me to play "oogiloves on Netflix"  because "this is too scary" she says to Word Girl that is on.
 she says "it is gone mom, no more oogoiloves" because she can't find it to play. It is her favorite, but she is not so sad, she is trying to be tough..  "you find it mom?" she asks in all her sweetness.  Then when I find it, she gets so excited and gives me a big hug
I bring a bunch of clean laundry into the living room
"we do the laundry mom, I help you mom"
and she starts sorting the clothes. In complete correctness.
Then starts putting them away without being asked.
I tell her I'm going to take a picture.  And she poses and smiles.
Then she goes and gets her "geejaw" what she calls her blankie, and sucks her thumb and sits on the couch.
I take her to kohler's house, so his mom can watch Mari and Bethy while I help in Kate's class.  I find a old heat necklace made of clay in the glove box from activity day girls calling a long time ago.  I give it to Mari.  She is so pleased.  And tells everyone about it all day.  "my heart mommy, you give this to me mommy"
This is my two year old.
My amazing adorable two year old.
She is the best of everything!
Helpful Responsible Sweet Loving Kind Funny Happy Selfless Beatufiul

April 28, 2014

my sad tulips in the snow.  I feel like there is a metaphor here that relates to this week.  but my brains is so fried I can't think of it.

What a busy week we had.
Easter came and went and the week that followed seemed busier than ever.
I'm not even sure what we did.
Soccer games, photo clients, regular work, callings.  We didn't have a free day. or minute.
We ate out twice because I just didn't have five minutes to think about dinner.

Life has a way of making you slow down.
This morning we woke up to snow.  SNOW?  SNOW!
And sick kids too.
And as long as it is just sore throats and mild fevers I can cope.
And I'm almost grateful.
The snow made me have to cancel my photo clients for the day.
It also eases the plans we had to try and get the last bit of the yard done this week, since- you know, it is snowing out there.
The sick kids mean we won't be at soccer tomorrow, school a bit this week, and I went ahead an canceled our family pictures I've been looking forward to for weeks.
And we have big plans to sit the house cuddling on the couch and watch cartoons and do some puzzles.
And if it is just for a day or two, I'll embrace it.
If you don't make time to sit, see, life will force you to do it.
Currently three kids are sitting at the counter together drinking some tea.

To prove to you how busy we have been, I don't have one single picture of the kids since Easter.
That is an entire week without taking a picture of my own kids.
Record.  Not a good one.

I do have some great memories that I've been wanting to write down.

Bethany is not walking yet.  But will stand up from the ground without using any furniture.  She also says this and that to everything too.  Yesterday she got a book, brought it over to her Dad, and said with clarity "this book".  Wait a minute. Isn't she barley 12 months old? And putting together two works already.  I think we have a talker on her hands. Or she figures she has got to speak up if she wants her needs and wants heard over the rest of the crew.

Sam has always been our spiritual giant.  He is partially named for Samuel the boy prophet of Hannah's anyways.  So sometimes I call him my little boy prophet.   He is always asking questions about Jesus and other important questions.The other day at dinner he gave a very thoughtful and long prayer.  I mean 2 or 3 minutes for a 5 year old, with original thoughts.  When he was done we told him what a good prayer he had said and he said to us "sometimes Jesus speaks to my heart.  He spoke to my heart and told me what I should say"  Cue Jake and I swelling with pride.

Marianne is going through a crazy spell.  Like throwing herself on the ground at Home Depot and crying for ten minutes and wailing about because I wouldn't let her sit next to Bethany in the baby seat.  In fact most of it seems to come from wanting to be the baby.  Which is strange- none of our other kids did that, but maybe she didn't get to be the baby long enough for her.  And it is not just that one time.  She is finally acting two- at almost three years old.  I didn't expect to her to be an Angel forever.  And she still takes two to three hour naps most days- so she is still an Angel in my book either way.

Kate is also having a bit of a crazy spell. or attitude spell.  She has been 14 all of a sudden.  Jake and I aren't really sure what to do with it except give her more chores.  Sadly I think a lot of it comes from not feeling well.  Though today she is actually sick- with a fever and sore throat and is kind.  Maybe some of the attitude is learned at school.  I am in Kate's class on Tuesdays and it seems first graders have a lot more attitude and problems then I ever remember.  Kate has never been a sleeper, but lately has been waking up at 4am and sneaking downstairs to watch tv.  I think she wakes up to use the bathroom and then just doesn't go back to bed.  We usually find her around 6am when we wake up.  Needless to say I'm more than pleased that right now she is asleep on the couch.  She is such a helper and a trooper though.  I don't know what I would do without her help.

Yesterday Kate and Marianne got out the piano books and sang them together side by side on the couch.  Like reading but singing. Kate and Marianne seem to play the most these days together.  Or Sam and Mari sometimes.   Kate will tell Mari what to do or what they are going to do and she is more than happy to cooperate if it means she gets to play with Kate's big girl crafts or rainbow looms.

This morning when Sam saw the snow he asked if he and Dad could go and shovel the driveway.  I told him Dad was already at work, but he was welcome to.  My worker boy.  So he got his coats and boots, and helped Mari do the same because she wanted to go only to open the garage door and find that it had already melted off.  It was a thoughtful gesture anyways.  Then he and Mari played in the snow/mud for a few minutes.

Marianne is suddenly obsessed with clothing.  It is funny- she has been obsessed with certain babies or dolls for so long. But now it is shirts.  A unicorn shirt she loves, or if it can't be found she will settle for a butterfly "futterfly" one, or minnie mouse, or a bunny.  It can't just be plain though.  If she can't find it she asks "its washing mom?"  And she always remembers when we got it "you brought this for me mom?".  Todays pick is a striped shirt from old navy with a small blue butterfly on it. I believe it has been work three times this past week- washed and returned to her drawer just to wear it again. I bought her an extra unicorn shirt this week to help with the wash turn around. :)

Our house is basically a 24 hour dance party.  The kids know how to make pandora work on my phone and they have a kids bop station on there  they sneak it away and put it on, Bethy usually starts popping the minutes it starts- she loves it  we can't even have a jingle on a commercial on the tv come on without a little bounce and clap from her, Kate usually tries to choreograph everyone into synchronized movements.  She has even taught the kids how to line up in the hallway like they are waiting for their number like she did with the Drill Team and Sam and Marianne are young enough that they still dance with tons of passion and excitement every time.  Everyone is pretty good too.  I mean, do you know other 5 year olds who do "the robot" to a techie beat?  I am pretty sure that when we look back on our home videos we will find about 70 hours of dancing just from this year alone.

April 19, 2014

My daring Bethany turned one year old on the 18th.
She held off her party a day until Saturday.
When we threw her a little fox party- as it is one of her nicknames.
We mostly threw it together with Kate and Sam's help Friday night.
We had a bunch of soccer and Easter stuff all morning, then put Bethy down for her nap and got everything  ready.
She woke up in a delightful mood.
Many of my babies are a little overwhelmed or not quite themselves on their first birthday.  But not Bethany. She was her most delightful happy self.
She opened her gifts first. Simple things like books, and clothes, a new sunhat since she seems to burn her pink skin within seconds of stepping outside, a musical toy, some sippy cups.  She loved everything.  Smiles, giggles, sweet faces and dancing to each one.  And her siblings were perfect hosts to her showering her with love and attention.
Then it was cake time. We sang and lite a candle and she was hands in frosting before the candle was even out. Then ate mostly frosting and loved it.  LOVED it.  Getting messy and being sweet.
The kids decided she needed some party games, so they planned bubble blowing and hide and seek.  Which we did.  and then some added wrestling and tickling on the floor and reading her books.
It was one of the best afternoons as a family we have spent in a long time just our little family sitting all together in the living room for hours.
I am so in love with my Bethany Baby.
How grateful I am for her sweetness and happiness.
More about her with her one year old portraits soon.
Happy Birthday my Darling!