Baby Taking Care of Babies

When we got home from our bike ride this morning, Sophi was holding Katharine, and Katharine was holding three Beanie Boo baby toys. 

She seemed very content and happy to have something to take care of. 

And Katharine has been a bit clingy the past little while, and after seeing her love on these animals this morning, I am thinking maybe she just needs a responsibility? 

Like she just needs someone/something to take care of?

She was very content holding this baby sloth, little panda, and koala bear. She kept them close all during breakfast. 

Abi used to be a very affectionate mother to her dolls. Lily had a motherly phase too, as did Natalie with her "baby". Cute. We'll see if one of these animals becomes Katharine's favorite. 

Owen had his trumpet lesson today after school. We listened to Wreck It Ralph in Spanish in the car, cause I decided I'm tired of listening to it in English, but it would be fun if we were able to learn it in Spanish! So I've been subjecting the kids to that on repeat this past week. After trumpet, we took Daniel to soccer practice, and I had Owen and Peter come with me. We've made a new rule that Owen can only play outside at friend's houses, because we think he has been playing too many video games over there. So I took him to soccer to keep him away from screens. At the park, he conquered his fear of the fireman's pole and he was able to do it! I did the monkey bars until my palms were hurting - trying to keep my hands and arms strong and hopefully be able to keep up with my climbing that way. Owen wasn't able to do the monkey bars, but did great on the pole, so that was a step in the right direction. I also pushed O and P on the swings. Then they made pillows for themselves in the woodchips so they could take a nap.

It's good having time at the park. My BeReal with Peter - 

We have a morning dove nest in our back yard, and you can see it from the little deck off of our bedroom. After Daniel's soccer practice, the kids were playing in the back yard with Corey and called to me because they found a flightless bird. I saw it and knew it was one of the morning dove birds. Super cute and fluffy. It took me two fails before I was able to pick it up, and then I passed it to Natalie to hold while I went and got the ladder from the garage. Corey then found another baby bird but that one was dead. It was stiff and cold so it had been dead for a little while, I don't know if the cats got it, or if the kids somehow hurt it playing in the backyard. We buried that one, and then before getting the ladder I went to our room to look at the nest to see if the mother was there. And that was when I noticed the mother on our deck! She had been watching her baby the whole time. 

I was able to put the baby back in the nest and we're hoping it's ok. 

I googled a bit for info if I had made a mistake by touching it. It looked pretty big and feathery, so I think it was 12-14 days old. Sweet morning dove. Then Abi wanted to go to the temple. Sophi and Lily went with her. I took them, so that Corey could stay home and play with the boys. I took my bike, but it was raining, so I didn't ride it. I just took a walk in the rain. The temple looked beautiful.

I got cold and went but kept walking until I found the remains of two deer in the same spot - wondering if it was near a cougar den or something, yikes, so then I hurried back to the car and waited for the girls for 45 min. Note to self - keep a dress in the car in case I ever have a last minutes chance to go to the temple. 

Precious Life

These three girls decided to go to church as Guatemala girls yesterday. Katharine didn't match in her pastel pink, but that's ok.

Natalie and Lily are wearing shirts that Joseph gifted them from one of his trips to Guate, but Abi, you can't fool me! Your shirt is Burmese! Ler and December (last pic) gave that to us, or Ler's brother did. Ok, we'll let is slide, Abi was wearing her Guatemala backpack. 

I take my bag with tipica to church every Sunday, it's one that I ordered from Titia's bags- the lady who makes these was in Joseph's ward or something when he was a missionary. Katharine being cute at church - pretty bow on my pretty 3 month old.

She was freaking out last night in a very uncharacteristic way and I took her on a walk to try and calm her down, and her face was all blotchy. She seriously cried from 3:30 - 4:30 yesterday! I'm wondering if she ate something that made her uncomfortable or itchy? 

If she did I don't know what it was. She might just be red cause she was crying so much. But she recovered and today she's been find, so I don't know what that was all about. My poor baby. She was just trying out what it is like to throw a fit. I'm guessing she thinks it's over rated. It's better to just be an angel baby. 

I'm really behind on the blog, and yesterday I finally finished July, yikes I'm always playing catch up. I do want to record memories for my kids though, so I'll keep at it. (And actually, truth be told, today is actually November 21st!! But I wrote on my notes for September 11 that I finished blogging July, so yeah, I'm still way behind! I think I'll blame my now almost 6 month old baby. Now, pretending I'm in the past again...) Let's talk about butterflies! "Yesterday" I didn't release any, but today we had one male emerge. 

They're just so cool and beautiful. 

I've got 2 chrysalides, three big cats, 4 medium, 5 small, and my 17 babies (I hope... they're too small to count). These four were so cute! I loved seeing them all munching away, so I made a short video. Cuties.

I love my caterpillars and butterflies!

I love my kids too. Peter being cute at violin today, playing with puzzles. 

There is so much beauty to enjoy in this world, even when there are hard and horrible trials and events too. I did think about 9/11 yesterday. We didn't watch anything, but my heart is with those who were so greatly affected by the events of that day. I am grateful that we were able to go to the World Trade Center Memorial and Museum last year. All things will be made right through Christ. I'm grateful for my one precious life. 

Two Weeks

I don't think we've said hello to September yet... have we? "Hello blessed September! I've been looking forward to you for 9 months, glad you're finally here!" We are almost there... two weeks from today and hopefully I'll be at the hospital being induced. God willing everything will go well and we'll be able to meet this little man. All the kids are excited, except for Owen, who probably doesn't know what's coming... do you Owen?

You, little person, are about to be booted from your position as baby in the family. Are you ready to share. There will be some attention adjustment I'm sure, but luckily we've got enough smitten older siblings who love babies to go around. I'm sure you'll be fine. I've told Owen before that I feel he's mostly responsible for this happening so quickly... Oh, don't look like you don't know what I'm talking about...

My theory is he had some premortal agreement with this sibling to get him down here pronto, and he's kept his word. They'll be 14 months apart.

Yeah, Owen, that was your fault for dumping me for the bottle. I don't remember all the details from each newborn experience, but since yours is the most recent and one of the few that is blogged about, you might be the baby that is remembered as being the most difficult.

No offense, that's just the truth, and I'm hoping your little brother doesn't follow suit and that nursing him won't be a trial.

So these photos here are adorable pictures that Ethan took yesterday after church. We made Owen dress up in a tight button up collared shirt like all the other poor men have to do, poor guys. It was a 2T though, so it wasn't too tight on Owen's chubby neck. 

We thought he looked pretty dapper. 

We're excited to meet your little brother in two weeks!

Laughing Baby

I have such a pretty baby.... 

That's my BeReal from yesterday with her lovely face. Here's her little face as I tickled her!

Natalie took a video of her laughing as I tickled her neck. It's a "short" so I can't embed it, but there's the link.

It was right after I changed her diaper and she had already been pretty smiley and laughing, but we tried to not use up all her laughs and save one for after she was clean, and so I gave Natalie my phone and she took it.

SO CUTE! Oh I love it. Babies are magic and pure heaven. 

Yestrday and today have been good. I felt pretty sick yesterday but feel better today. I picked up carpool (I do Tuesday and Wed pick ups), cleaned, took S to the library both days after I picked her up from safety patrol to get her another Sisters Grimm book that we put on hold. I had a plumber scheduled to come fix the tub Tues, and when I left for carpool they still hadn't come, so I left the door unlocked and was going to tell them just to go in, if they came while I was gone, but they called as I was leaving to reschedule for today. So then today they said that the faucet I got from Standard Plumbing won't work - I need "square handles" plus the two cartridges for hot and cold water are different from each other, so I went back to Standard Plumbing after they left to get the right faucet, turns out the square handle faucets, called Monticello, and gone, so we're going to prob get the cartridges replace, which is going to require accessing under the tub and prob breaking the tile around the tub, so we still don't have a working tub and this just turned into a bigger project, so I let our friends/landlords know and she wants a second opinion and someone is coming on Friday for that. Hopefully we'll have a working but within a week? 

Corey and Abi went to Provo tonight for a flute recital for Mel, I stayed home and held down the fort. It will be a later bedtime tonight but that's ok, it happens. But it's been really great for us ever since we all started to go to bed early (10 PM). Corey said going to bed early is his super power, and he's right! It's been a game changer for us all as a family. 

More American's in Costa Rica

When we first got here in Costa Rica, some of the church members we met asked us if we were the family with 7 kids that was driving down. We weren't, and were surprised to know there might be another family of 9 from Utah coming to Costa Rica. Well, there was another family, actually two, and on Tuesday evening we met them and all got together for a little stop at the beach then dinner and swimming at our house. Meet la familia Royal y la familia Meyers!


I told them I'd take lots of pictures of them, cause they haven't been able to send or post any photos for their family and friends to see. One camera of theirs got stolen while crossing the Mexico/Guatemala border, the other one is broken I think? Anyway, for all of their family and friends that have been waiting to see some photos, here are a few from our time together Tuesday.


This is Melanie and her cute little kid nicknamed "Tuna"

We moms and kids and Corey went over to Playa Conchal for the kids to play. It was really funny for Corey to be walking along the beach with 3 women and 19 kids. He felt very conspicuous and did have some people pass and ask with a smile "Are these all yours?!" He'd answer with a twinkle in his eye "Estan prestados" (They're on loan) :)


The mother's main job - keep kids from killing themselves by getting in over their head!



Rachael with her cute twin boys Andrew and Joseph. All three of our families have a Joseph.

The waves at Conchal when the tide is in are short and strong, they really pushed and pulled you in the water, the kids had fun being tossed around.

(Sorry, there were so many little people that I can't tell or don't know who the kids are in these pics - hopefully you can find the ones you love!)

As we walked from Brasilito to Conchal we could see the rain clouds coming. We stayed for an hour and then a light rain started and some lightening. I was praying as we walked back that we wouldn't get zapped, and am grateful to report we all made it back alive. Corey hurried off to AutoMercado for pizza, roasted chicken, french bread, apples, and other stuff for dinner and we headed back home where the kids all played in the pool till the food was ready.

Wesley, I know that one on the left, not sure the name of kid 2, but he's from the Meyers clan.

Some action jumping shots - Michael and Joseph (not my Joseph) but my Joseph was happy to have some boys his age to play with.

Corey arrived and we got dinner ready, the kids ate for a while, then Jacob and Dannan came and joined in the fun.

19 kids around the dinner table, well, the 3 babies weren't there I guess, so only 16 kids.

19 Kids watching Cartoon Network. Hmm, actually only 12. Can you see them all?
(Hint: Abi was well hidden, but you can see a bit of her blonde hair and her little feet...)

After we ate, we cleaned up and the kids swam some more or watched TV, and the adults visited...

Jacob on the left, Dannan on the right.

Well, so I didn't get a picture of all 19 kids at the dinner table or in the pool, but there were 19 kids in the house, and let me tell you that's a lot o-kids. Oh, and a dog too. Hyrum was a little freaked out. Guess he's not totally cured of his phobia, he's been away from Chloe too long.

Look at those angels sweeping my floor... Wish I could get my kids to do that!


Our new friends have an open invitation to come and take nice warm baths in our tub - since their place has neither hot water nor a tub, and we remember what that is like from our 4 month stay in Brazil. So yea, whenever you guys want to, come on over! We only have 6 more weeks here, so we're gonna pack the weeks with fun and I'm sure we'll be getting together with them again, so check back for updates (I'll try to post it to their facebook walls too so you can see more pictures)

Hey, wait don't tell me.. I know who's who! Okay... that's Joseph on the left and Andrew on the right, right? Cause that cutie on the right is sucking his thumb, no? And Andrew sucks his thumb, Joseph sucks his finger. Rachael said that difference came in handy on the plane ride down. Melanie and Rachael flew down with all the kids and luggage (I think their story puts my pity party of flying without my man to shame) while the men drove down with vans and trailers full of food storage, furniture, and stuff to help their families get settled. They are renting a home together in Nicoya on 12 acres. We're definitely going to go play at their house and let the kids run around in their jungle. :) See you guys again soon!