Corey and the girls are almost back from Guatemala. Here's a recap of their adventure, not that I've been there or know much of what they've done. I was actually going to title this post "Long and Painful" cause I think they are going to be a bit travel weary for a few days. But I hope they've had fun, even though they've been on their way back since Sunday night. That sounds long and painful to me. But we'll try to focus on the positive for a few minutes - They spent most of their time this past week in Puerto Barrios. Natalie relaxing at the beach -
It seems to me like they should have had a fun time at the resort - without any little kids in tow, how hard could it be?
Corey texted last Wednesday "I think the girls are having the experience I was hoping for. In order to respect the local culture, I made a deal that with food 1) we could have meals, no snacking. 2) I wont do anything to help cool. I like helping you at home, but it seems wrong for me to lift a finger here in Latin American with 5 daughters. So they are making breakfast and I'm working"
They had fun at the resort - going down the water slide -
They took a little river tour -
The bugs at Mel alive - she had over 100 bug bites on her legs.
And of course did some tourist shopping.
Getting their hair done at a little shop -
They left had a pretty relaxing few days at Puerto Barrios, then left there on Friday night for an 8 hour bus ride back to Guatemala City. They didn't need to check out of the hotel in Puerto Barrios until Saturday, but they left early cause Corey wanted to make it back to the city on Saturday so they could go to the Guatemala Temple. And he didn't want to spend 8 waking hours on the bus - seemed less painful to try and do it at night, which mostly worked, except for when the police stormed the bus at 1 am and woke them up to show their passports.
They made it to the temple, yay.
Going out to eat in Guatemala City. This was the first pic I'd seen of Corey since they'd been gone.
Mel was a good responsible adult, taking care of the kids so Corey could get some work done.
Walking around Antigua
I think this will be a trip that the girls will remember for a long time. Sounds super fun to have an all girls trip. That would be a fun thing to have done with my sisters.
I'll have to go with them next time, make it a mom and daughters trip. But maybe we'll just go somewhere in driving distance. They flew out of Guatemala Sunday night and arrived in Miami, where they spent most of the day yesterday until they flew out last night - and then they arrived in Las Vegas at 1:30 am this morning. They arrived at the Las Vegas Worldmark Hotel at 2:30 am, slept until 10, then checked out of their room, hung out at the pool, and tried to kill time until their scheduled 5pm flight, which has been delayed until 7:30pm. So it's 8:15 Utah time and they are FINALLY boarding the plane and will be arriving at 9:30. I'll be picking them up, hopefully we'll all be home at 10:30. And Abi and Lily have to hurry and pack for Trek - they need to be at the church for that at 6 AM tomorrow morning, fun fun for them to not have a chance to recoop from this long trip. Corey commented this morning "Doesn't always feel worth it to do it 'cheap' - esp with all the extra fees..." I also think it's not worth it with all the extra delays and layovers. Ugh. I have a trip to Indiana coming up soon and am not looking forward to the flight out. Ok, I'm going to leave to go pick them up now, yay.
Hello. Well I'm almost done coping. This will be my last post complaining about how much the past week has been sucky and long and painful. I have not been in a good place mentally, but I haven't really had much of a chance for any quiet time.
As you might be aware, Corey and the girls were gone all this last week, and my being a solo parent started off with a bang for me with a 12 hour car drive from dropping them off in Las Vegas. Sleep deprivation = not a good way to start my week alone. Soon this will all be a happy memory. Church yesterday was good here. And our traveling family members were able to go to church in Guatemala City and meet a lot of people and families that Joseph knew on his mission.
Natalie's dress there is so cute - she looks like Mirabel from Encanto!
They flew out of Guatemala last night, and arrived in Miami. They have been chilling there at the airport all day. Mel's BeReal today -
They are now in the air. They'll arrive in Las Vegas at like 1 AM Vegas time. They are going to go to the Worldmark there and get some rest, then check out at 10 and chill for the whole day again while they wait for a 7pm flight. We're just chilling here. Ethan came back from North Carolina on Saturday. He flew in to Las Vegas too, then took a shuttle to St. George where he had left his car. He's been hanging out with us. The boys have had fun with their older sibling - Ethan's BeReal today -
No offense to Ethan (like I also said with Wes) but E wasn't a ton of help to me in my single parenthood.
You need daughters for that. They shall be back soon. But I get it - he was coming back from a long month of selling pest control and needed a rest. Joseph has been gone in Arizona - today was his first day as an FSY counselor. His BeReal -
I guess BeReal has been good since it gives me a little snapshot into what's going on with them. Here's my BeReal - biking has helped me get through this past week.
Maybe it's been biking - maybe it's been nature and the mountains. Getting outside has been good. I've been trying to sneak over to Momentum too, I got a 2 week pass there. I like it, and have been thinking about getting a 3 month summer pass, but am not sure if I'll get it - I was trying out with a 2 week pass to see how doable it was for me to get over there (since I don't have "taking Lily to jazz band" as an excuse/reason to get out the door). But I have been doing lots of biking. I went climbing this morning and then this evening I took a ride - and one funny thing was when I was coming down - I got to the board that is right before the 3rd bridge, and a guy coming up just biked right over it. So I got brave and thought "I'm going to bike it!" and it was slippery and I also panicked and was looking down and... promptly fell in. It was just a small stream, but I got soaked none the less. So now I'm drying out my phone, which as in my pants pocket. It was refreshing though! Glad Corey and the girls will be back tomorrow and that Corey can go on a ride with me again.
Yesterday we went to visit Corey's mom. The kids drew some pictures for her. Peter wrote out his own name!!! So smart!
And then colored a picture of her. Peter appears to be left handed.
He messed up on his nose and eyebrows so then he had to start over. I didn't help with the circles for the faces on this one, he did it all by himself!
And here's the drawing that Daniel did - so cute.
I was glad that I got a picture of it, cause he kept working on it and drew another picture on the back, in marker, and the marker bled through and kinda messed up this side. But Daniel is still an amazing little artist. Also yesterday, I got a few videos of Katharine toddling around the house. She was being so cute playing with these two Ikea cups.
I love love love her little toddle, she's walking like a pro! Her little steps are so dainty and adorable!
Katharine likes playing on the trampoline too. I'm glad the kids like being outside. The boys have been playing soccer every day. Yesterday they were playing Wes vs. ODP. Having Peter as goalie was a good strategy for the little boys. Wes didn't kick it hard when he took shots, and he usually just passed it to Peter, and P would feel like a hero for catching it.
Each time Owen and Daniel play, they usually get on the whole outfit - soccer jersey, shin guards, cleats. BeReal - boys playing, Katharine behind me on the trampoline. Daniel opted for soccer in his pjs this evening.
Ok, so yesterday I was able to go on a morning bike ride. 1-2 hours for morning exercise been the only "me" time I've gotten this week. Today I missed it, cause K woke up at 5. I was going to go to the temple but cancelled it after she was awake. I only had until 8:30 to do anything, cause Wes was leaving to help his uncle clean, and the boys had soccer. I bought treats last night to bring for Daniel's game. Owen's game was at 9, Daniel's at 10. Peter and Katharine came along. I was struggling a bit cause K wouldn't hold still, so I nursed her to get her to just stay put, and Peter was right on top of me and her playing with her feet... I need a bit of space. But I haven't gotten that much this week. Trying to breathe... It was a bit hot too.
The boys have loved soccer, but I did tell Corey, before we signed them up, that I didn't want to do it. My Saturdays don't need another thing. He said he'd own it. And he has when he's been here, but I was struggling today. It's no fun being a mom taking 4 little kids to soccer games. I let them play at the park for a few after the games were over. I was spent after we got home from that at 12. We bought cookie crumble ice cream on the way home (I told a neighbor I could go pick her up a 8oz of sour cream, and we got a gallon of ice cream too) and I ate most of that, it was gone before 4. I'm still just trying to breathe, I nursed K, the boys made top ramen for themselves with some neighbor brothers that are on their teams. When I came downstairs, there were ramen wrappers and ramen crumbs all over the kitchen. I ushered the boys outside and said I'd finish microwaving the ramen. Time for lockout.
I think lockout might be a good summer survival strategy. I locked the back door, so I could see them, but couldn't hear them as loudly. I cleaned up the kitchen, kept the food mess outside (K eating Peter's top ramen after he abandoned it...)
And they can all jump around and make noise all they want.
I had some moments when I was present with Katharine. Watching her read Natalie's journal, ha.
I wonder if she's learning any good gossip? (Correction from Natalie via the comments... she does "not really have a journal" and this was Lily's journal.)
It's weird - when she's giving me space and doing her own thing, that's when I'm in awe of her cuteness and just want to watch her. As soon as I decide I'll go be productive, that's when she comes and finds me. So then I give up trying to get anything done and just spend time with her.
Trying to tickle her neck for a selfie - She looked so cute in this one -
Wes just got home. I think I have time for a quick ride before the sun sets. I can't find my ipods, but I'm going anyway, the silence will be good for me.
I am struggling. I guess I've gotten used to having helpers. (Wes, not trying to say that you have not been helpful). I was really hoping to go on a ride tonight, and got K to sleep thinking I could slip out, but I forgot about Daniel's soccer practice. So we went to that instead. I brought along a book to read. I thought, in vain, that I might have a minute to read. I left K home with Wes, she woke up shortly after I left. I ended up just pushing Peter on the swing at the park. I'm trying to not be exhausted, but I just haven't gotten a break. I texted a friend to see if she could maybe watch P and K for a few. I ended up taking them up in the mountains with me. I had to get out of the house. A verse from the Bible study this past week came to mind - Matt 24:16: Then let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains. I fled into the mountains, and it worked, even with the kids in tow.
My arms were tired from carrying K up there. Next time I'll bring the carrier.
It may look like Peter is being affectionate, but he was actually putting dirt on her head.
He was just helping her out with what he knows is her true desire: getting into dirt.
It wasn't totally relaxing, cause I had to watch Peter and make sure he didn't get too close to the water.
But it was nice hearing the waters rush by. I did take a breather for a few minutes, so it was good. K eating rocks...
We went on a little walk up a trail that I discovered yesterday, that seemed like a biking trail? I wasn't sure. We followed it all the way through so now I know where it comes out to the main path. Corey and I might be able to do it?
This morning I went climbing for an hour-ish. When I got home the kids had just woken up. I was glad that Wes got rest, hoping that it would help him have a productive day. We let Katharine have her birthday cake this morning.
I burnt my finger on the candle when I was one year old. Katharine did not. Good girl. She held her fork and watched, then her brothers blew it out.
Then they helped her eat the cake. Daniel was still in bed so he missed out.
But that's ok, cause he snuck into the ice cream yesterday and took 4 cones, so we'll call it even. We sang to her and got a few pics of her making a mess. She's cute.
I took all the little kids with me today to Katharine's one year well visit.
She checked out ok.
The clinic was a bit busy, so K wandered around waiting for them to come examine her.
Then they decided to give her her shots now instead of after. She was happy...
And then she was sad. But her brothers helped cheer her up and they all got suckers at the end.
