Cheerfully and With Patience

On Sunday night, Daniel poured a whole bottle of Olive garden dressing onto his small salad. And I confess that I pulled out the leafs of lettuce and I poured it back into the bottle, cause we are not going to just waste a whole bottle of that stuff. Then somehow it was left out again, and he did it again, and so I did it again. Shhh don't tell the kids. And the hairspray mess that they made on Saturday was still on the walls and dresser still needs to be cleaned up. So, I'm doing my best to cope with the mess that toddler and Christmas decorations bring. I'm also a little frazzled cause apparently we are having a guest from Guatemala join us next week. Joseph threw it out to him that he could come here, he called Corey, and now he's coming. I'm not thrilled, he's going to be here for 10 days and it will be over Christmas. I that got me a little stressed out and in effort to not lose my cool, I turned to the scriptures. Cue Mosiah 24:15.

And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

I shall now liken it unto me:

And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Tiffanie were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen her that she could bear up her burdens with ease, and she did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

I think I do okay at submitting with patience, but I know I need to work on the "cheerfully" part. (I tend to murmur and vent...) So I come out after my scriptural coping session Sunday night, and I come downstairs to find Natalie and Owen took off all the ornaments off of the white Christmas tree and put them all in a white garbage sack for whatever game they were playing and then I felt like I needed to go back up and hide with my scriptures. I get it doctrinally, but putting this into practice is hard.

They've continued their un-decorating of the Christmas trees the past few days. Owen found these pretty gold bags (that Lily got after a fun Christmas brunch at Grand America with her friend Isa) and he filled them up like he was shopping for ornaments.

Got his purse... got all the ornaments he wants to purchase...

Ready to take his goods to the check out line -

I had to breath and try to not get too upset about this undoing of the decorations. I might be letting lots of thing bother me. I might just need to calm down? I'll try to breath. One thing that I hope will help is something we started today: Beat the Parent. I've heard about "Beat the Teacher" through many years of 2nd graders. And if teachers still use it and have been using it for years there, this might work for us. I learned about this when I took Peter there for show and tell in October. When I went there for that, school was almost out, so the kids were understandably restless, and they weren't as quiet/respectful as the teacher would have liked so she gave herself some points. Today I asked Sophi how that worked. We started today with just two things that are the same as what her class does - a "Wow List" for kids that save the day (like Abi when she wakes up early on Saturday mornings and cleans the main floor while we're all still sleeping) and a cleaning Beat the Parent tally mark paper. We're just using paper for now. And tonight I added three more Beat the Parent contests: Scripture Study, Clean Bedroom, and Music Practice (I'm gonna win that one easy! ...even if it is just me against 6 kids - E sax, Wes on trumpet, Abi on flute (she's my only real competition) Lily on Sax, Sophi and Natalie on violin) For our rough draft trial this week, it's just pieces of paper taped to the wall by the stairs

We'll see if having the different categories makes it more fun or more complicated. I'm trying to earn lots of points. Or I'm avoiding it all and just playing with Peter to hide from all my other responsibilities. He's getting big. He's showing me how big he is by trying to stand up while he is precariously holding on the post of our bed.

Near the corner... don't fall Peter!

One of his other favorite things is chewing on tooth brushes.

I had some spares in my purse that I picked up from the orthodontist. I think it helps his teething. His top teeth are almost in. Maybe chewing tooth brushes is good for coping with stress or something, maybe I'll pick some up for myself to chew.

Christkindlmrkt

Last year a neighbor mentioned going to Christkindlmrkt as part of their Christmas tradition. I put it on my calendar so I could go this year and check it out. It is Wed-Saturday of this week. Abi went last night with some of my family. I wanted to go, but it just didn't work out with flute lessons and dinner and stuff. But my sister Beka and her husband came and picked up Abi to go with them. My brother and his family came down from Layton so they were there too. I was glad she was able to go with them and spend some time with my family. My SIL texted me this picture of Abi and her cousins meeting the Krampus - the keeper of naughtiness

Good make up, huh! So I still wanted to go, so Corey and I went tonight as part of date night. I thought it would be good to see it and then if I wanted to I'd still have a chance to take the kids tomorrow. We left a little late, and we went to dinner at Costa Vida first, where there was a slow line. We ate, then finally got to the market at 7:30, 30 min before it was supposed to end for the day.I was worried it wasn't going to be enough time to get a feel for it, but it worked out great - there was a long line of cars going in and we were able to get a pretty close parking spot since there were plenty of people leaving too. But we still had to walk quite a bit. It was foggy and cold. I felt like a dark and dreary wilderness as we pressed forward with the throng of people in the mist of darkness. It was like Lehi's dream, only there wasn't a shining tree anywhere. Just black shadowy trees. Eventually we saw light in the little makeshift German Village. It was cute, and I'm glad we were able to go. Corey got a chocolate and whipped cream waffle something dessert that hit the spot for him, and I was able to look around. I was trying to find the glass shop where Abi bought her new prized possession last night:

It is her glass hummingbird and she LOVES it. She made it a birth certificate and gave it a name. I thought I'd get her another one for Christmas but I never saw a shop with glass stuff like this, so no luck. Instead we just walked around and saw other things. It was cute, I don't know that we'll go again. I was glad to check it out without kids. It was cold and crowded and that would have been painful to have kids with us. So I would be willing to go again for a date night, but we'll see. A few more pics - yesterday, here is Owen walking around with a heavy duty machine gun.

Aka the tablet music stand that Ethan and Wes use for the soundhouse.

He feels pretty cool with it. Unfortunately he often leaves it wherever and who knows where and E and W are sometimes unable to find it when they need it for band. I like the little kids imaginations, we just need to figure out a way to teach them to put things where they go.

And here is sweet Peter after we got home from our date tonight. He was so snuggly and curled up and cute, kinda like a newborn.

I love it. I think he's been my snugly-est baby. I love Peter

Secret Service

We're trying to start a new tradition this year. I guess it's just another version of a tradition we've tried to do in the past, whether it was in the version of a piece of straw for Jesus' manger for each act of service performed, or through notes of service in the gold stocking for the Savior. I'm still itching to get the spirit of Christlike service into our home and family. So, once again, we're just trying to get it going. For FHE last night, I proposed that instead of the kids drawing names to have a sibling that they give a gift to on Christmas Day, that instead we try to have it be a month long service thing for a sibling. They draw names each week at Family Home Evening, and serve that person during the week, and then write them a letter to put in their stocking. The goal is that they will serve and also will each have some letters from a few of their siblings to read on Christmas Day. We'll see how it goes. It will work if they buy into the game. So we drew names last night. This morning, one of the kids got up early and made crepes for their secret sibling, Abi. They put the crepes in the bathroom where they would be seen, with instructions to eat them in the kitchen.

I hope all the kids play along! It will make it fun. I hope it works.

Owen, Daniel, and Peter aren't participating in the doing part of this, but they are able to receive service, so this week I drew the sibling names for them so it just means I kinda have 4 people. I have time for that though, so I'll probably just me making the beds a lot. A few cute pics of the little boys - Peter asleep on Sunday morning. He's been turning at night and usually is sleeping on his tummy by morning, which I think is super adorable.

Yesterday Daniel was playing with the hot glue gun. Lily had left it out after helping Sophi decorate her paper Christmas tree for school. She is a good girl to remember unplugging it. Daniel found it and started playign with it. And since we've been to the pediatrician recently, he used it as his stethoscope to check Peter's ears.

Peter held very still, it was cute. I guess they're just always cute to me though, aren't they?

One last cute picture - of Peter's chubby ankles last week (Nov 30th) as I nursed him.

I was thinking that for adults, even when we're overweight, the ankles stay pretty bony. So I thought it was so cut to see rolls on an ankle

Tree Is Up

Abi was ready for it, so yesterday the kids put up the tree.

I told her they could get it out after they cleaned up the front room, so she cleaned it up. Then they brought up the trees. Then she brought up ALL the boxes of decorations and....then they messed it up. And it will remain a mess until Christmas. Cause the little kids take off all the ornaments. Good thing the ornaments are plastic. It makes them break less-rapidly. The kids are happy wearing Santa hats

"Are you guys getting ready for Christmas?!?!" They've been in the Christmas spirit, playing outside in the snow, sledding, and drinking hot cocoa.

They went sledding with Iveth's kids yesterday.

We haven't had them over for a long time, so that was fun.

Everyone's clothes were soaked when they got back, so they played while I threw things in the dryer. And they all played dress up.

Asis the rapper, and Sophi the model

A few more pics - potty training Daniel isn't going great. He's not interested in conquering #2. I think he's too comfortable in pull ups, so we're trying the underwear approach. We'll see how it goes.

And a picture of my snuggly Peter from last night. I love this baby boy.

The Party

Well, I had to suck it up this morning and figure out what to do for this birthday party. So Abi pestered so she could come with me, and I went to Dollar Tree, and I spent over $100 stupid dollars on a ton of cheap garbage toys that I'm sure will all be in the trash tomorrow. And I resented every second of it.

The cashier told me that I won the award for largest sale that my sales clerk had ever done. NOT an award I'm proud of. And I vented to Nicole via Marco Polo wondering WHY do I even do this?

Wesley there showing about how I feel. He was enjoying eating the Airhead candy as he made the saran wrap game. It's a game we do at Christmas time with the Wride cousins, which is what we decided to do for the party. And a fishing game with toy prizes. Just a bunch of garbage-y toys. 

Sophi working on the seaweed and fish for the fishing game decorations. 

I guess I should count my blessings that my kids are eager to help. Wes, Abi, Lily, Sophi were all helping willingly, then Ethan came and told me he was happy to take over and run the show till the party was over for a mere $50 bucks. I told him I'd pay $5. He said that was too cheap and left. Yes I am frugal. If I did pay anyone, it should be all the kids who were already helping. Thankfully they'll take sugar as payment. So Wes finished the ball. I think he used three rolls of wrap. 

Kids start to arrive, and it begins...

Abi brought kids inside to decorate their goodie bags/brown paper lunch sacks.

Then outside for the fishing game hosted by Abi, body painting by Lily, and face painting courtesy of Mel who is visiting home for her first weekend at college, ha.

Singing Happy Birthday to Sophi, thanks to my mom for bringing this cake yesterday, it saved me a trip.

Happy Birthday toooo youuuu.

And then the saran wrap game. It did not go well because some kids unwrapped lots of things quickly and other kids having their turn end as soon as it started because the person after them rolled doubles too quickly. So my kids were getting upset with each other for not managing it to make it fair and some kids were sad. Before the game was over one kid had to leave and he left in tears.

So kinda felt like a fail. But I was just glad it was almost over. I don't like birthday parties. It wasn't as crazy as the day I did two parties on one day - that was with Wesley and Lily in 2016 . I think I'm going to revisit our family birthday policy. I propose that it no longer be "Each kid gets two friend birthday parties" and maybe I'll change it to (as Nicole does) a family day and a celebration of that kid - like we can watch family videos and look at blog posts and old scrap books, and then let that kids choose a family activity or family experience. Hopefully we'll start something better. But as for now, I'm grateful that we only have Daniel left, and his birthday will be low key, cause 3 year olds don't care, hallelujah. And then the next birthday is Mel is December! and since she's at college that will be low key here at home too - then Peter and Joseph in January, which will also be low key since it's a baby and Joseph who is also gone, then Ethan in March, but his will probably be just a mission prep birthday... And then my birthday in April - maybe that can be when we start the new policy. So I'm basking in the thought that there might not be any birthday expectations until June, yay.

Christmas Day!

Welcome Christmas day! As usual on Christmas morning, Corey and I slept in while the kids tried to wait. They were up on their own, but thankfully not as early as their alarms were set for (4:30 am) because I had confiscated phones and unplugged alarm clocks. They slept in the front room under the tree. I came out first, and gave permission for them to open their presents to each other, which were under the tree in the front room.

Corey and I went over the list of gifts and checked it twice to make sure things were even between the kids.

We didn't have a big breakfast. We kinda didn't have breakfast at all... the kids were eating the treats in their stockings and Corey had bought lots of goodies that we just set out in bowls at the table. Things like dried mangos, chocolate covered acai, cookies, etc. You know, all the healthy stuff. Then we all voted to go over to the white tree to open presents.

I tried to get a kid picture in front of the tree. There were lots of moving parts though, so these were the two that kinda turned out the best...

Still a little blurry, or kids are half hidden - Daniel above and Hyrum below, but we called it good and the opening began.

Corey puts numbers on the presents and then has a list he goes from, so the kids don't know which gift is for who. Lily chose the first one, the biggest one. It was for Natalie. This was a last minute switch...

Corey had bought this for himself, but gifted it to Natalie last minute cause she needed another present. This is the Nerf Rival Prometheus MXVIII, a semi automatic blaster gun. It was bigger than she is.

Corey figured it was safe to give her, cause she'll more willing share with him, being the sweet 5 year old that she is, and cause if she did want to use it, she would probably tire of it quickly and be open to letting him take it over for her. Corey got lots of these Rival Nerf guns for the kids. They continued to pick up presents, tell Corey the number, and then hand the present to the lucky recipient.

Daniel made a cute face when he opened a toy car. It will have to be preserved in memory though, cause I didn't catch it on camera. He and Owen got lots of cars and loved it.

More opening gifts.

Natalie got an Elsa doll and Sophi got Elena of Avalor.

Gifts almost all opened...

and we have the mess to prove it...

Yeah. Post Christmas chaos.

I cleaned up a little bit, and the house looked awesome yesterday morning. But now that we don't have a "Santa can't come..." threat to motivate them to pitch in, looks like we're on our own for today. But we kinda picked up for a second before we had the real highlight of the day - a call from Joseph at 11:00!!!

HI JOSEPH!!! It was really fun to talk to him. My parents came over and we also skyped in Corey's parents. Owen and Daniel were up watching tv -

a good distraction so they wouldn't make it so we couldn't talk to Joseph. But we did have them make a brief appearance. Owen, do you remember Joseph?

He cried cause we had taken him away from his show and quickly left to go finish watching Big Hero 6, which is his current movie on repeat. Daniel stayed a bit longer and was more willing to say hello to his big brother. "Yeah... I think I remember that guy..."

So we talked with Joseph for an hour.

It was fun.

I took a few videos. Corey did too. I uploaded the three of mine to his blog here.

He's doing a great job. Corey asked him if there's anything he misses from home. And he said he can't really remember what life was like before the mission. I totally get that though, we've been there.

That's good, it means he's lost in the work of the Gospel. He's such a good kid, and we sure miss him, but he's not missing anything here and there's no place we'd rather have him be. Here's Mel's instagram pic in memory of the glorious occasion -

Corey and the kids headed over to his parent's house at 2. I am staying here for a bit while Owen and Daniel are down for naps, and since I had was Santa during the night, I'm going to take a quick breather too. Will post tomorrow with other Christmas fun we had today.