Quality Time

I spent quality time with Katharine today. My heart is feeling tender for a neighbor who had a baby boy yesterday, little Joseph, her 4th child. Her husband's parents are in our ward, and I've been texting the mom. She said that the baby's heart is too large and his oxygen intake is only 50%, doctors are not hopeful that he'll live. So hard, I can imagine a little bit but I know I can't. Praying for a miracle for them, and holding Katharine a little tighter today. After she watched a little bit of The Little Mermaid, I printed up a picture for her to color. But she wanted me to color it, while she tried to color on herself. 

She learned that colored pencils don't draw well on human skin. But they do work well for eating cheerios. 

She put cheerios in her skirt and at them one by one, sticking the pencils into the hole in the middle, while I kept coloring. 

After Ariel was done, she wanted me to do Eric, but I was done, so I distracted her with something else. For Owen, Daniel and Peter, today was backwards day. Peter tried it, but didn't like how his clothes fit that way. Owen was the only one who showed his school spirit. 

He even walked to the bus stop backwards! Hyrum came down to Provo for something and he was able to meet up with Melodie, Ethan and Bella, so that is fun for them to have quality time too! I'm glad my kids all have each other!

Corey is with Lily at her blues band, and Abi has the van at GMS, she dropped of Sophi and Natalie at a violin Christmas rehearsal on her way to GMS. Natalie is having friends over tonight after they get back, and I didn't have a car to take her to the store for some snacks, so she and I walked down to Smiths - more quality time! We talked on the way down, she walked on the barrier while I held her hand. Bought some soda and popcorn for that. On the way back home we were mostly quiet, cause we were tired and two liters of soda get heavy when you carry them for 30 minutes. And now it's 5:00, Owen Daniel and Peter are all playing with friends. I'm glad that they have friends. Katharine does too - yesterday she had a playdate with Becca at 9:30. I woke her up at 8:50 to give her breakfast before she went. Must have been too early cause then she took a major nap in the afternoon. Which worked out well cause I didn't get anything done while she was there playing (I went on a walk). 

K took a long nap, and then the boys all went to play with friends after school, and A&L went to work for my mom, S&N went to Wayne's to work, so yeah the house was quiet until 6. Good news for me - last night I finally finished blogging April at 10 pm. Now I gotta finish May - I have like 6 to do for May, that's my next goal. 

Royal Tea Party

The kids got lost in a game tonight. It was really cute. It reminded me of when the boys played "king and queen" with Abi and little Sophi. Today it started with Katharine taking a bath, and me washing both of her dresses, so there was nothing for her to wear. Natalie helped me out by scooping up Katharine and getting her excited about other clothes. Katharine chose her pink shirt and pink pants. Then Natalie let Katharine choose Natalie's outfit. She chose a pink dress and sparkly shoes. Then the both put bows in their hair. Soon Katharine chose bows for the boys hair too. And she chose a baby for each of them (but a cup of raisins for herself)

I was in my room stretching and trying to come up with some inspiration for my winter exercise plan, when Abi came in dressed up in a robe and a white paper crown. I came out to see they were having a royal tea party in Katharine's room. 

Katharine still eating away on raisins. 

Abi came in as the king, who was coming to choose a bride. I got a video of some of their playing ~

I left and missed the wedding, but they took pics for me. Peter was the presiding priest. 

Abi chose Katharine to be her bride. Katharine changed her clothes to get ready for her wedding day. And Abi gave her quite the smooch on the lips!

They had fun and we had fun laughing with them. 

Work and Rest

Joseph texted us about the BYU Devotional for today - Lessons on Endurance by J. Ty Hopkins. Ty Hopkins spoke a lot about mountain biking! Joseph warned "It might inspire you to the extreme". And it did for me. I've never heard of the Tour Divide before, and wow. It says self supported, but I'm open to exploring it if Corey and I do it as a couple. I guess we can do what we want! My biggest concern is grizzly bears, yikes! (2nd to last pic). That might enough to keep me away. Corey'd prob need to be retired first. But that was fun to listen to and I was inspired, but dang, talk about breaking your body. It went along with thoughts I've had along with my lesson on Sunday, about offering God our heart, and so often it says to offer him a broken heart. I used to think that was a humble, repentant heart, and is is those tings, but maybe it's also really broken? Like a kid giving a parent a toy for a present, a toy that the parent had likely originally given to them, and it doesn't work anymore, it's broken, and they can't fix it. A little scribbled drawing like Jörg Klebingat talks about in his BYU devotional The Atonement of Jesus Christ, Judgment Day, and You (see 21:40) The important thing is that we are still willing to COME to HIM. Pick up the crayon and TRY.

So there's some of my spiritual thoughts from today. This morning I woke up on my own around 4, which I thought was cool, cause I had a 5am temple appointment. I got ready, left for temple at 4:20,  had time to sit in quiet and read scriptures (read D&C 109), did 5 names, decided to go to the celestial room, was able to do all that and still made it back shortly after 6 to make breakfast and wake up kids. Go me. I shoveled driveway, took Churchill carpool, but was feeling tired on the drive home, had to slap my face. Got home at 8 and then it's time to wake the boys. Owen gets up on his own and is dressed and ready to go sometimes at 7:30. He was up and ready this morning. It's funny though, cause after he eats he'll just walk around waiting for time to pass. I've been trying to remind him he can use this time to do his read homework or do chores and get his tasks done. He is doing better at that. Daniel and Peter struggle to get up and going. Peter is on the bottom bunk, so it's easier to get him out of bed cause I can poke him. Daniel will lay there and 15-20 minutes just blinking in a daze. 

Do you like the decorations they did on their bed a while ago? I don't like it, but it's fine - it's off the floor. They both like it so I decided to just leave it be. They've got these plastic chains crossing over so they could hang stuff - a drawing (behind Peter's blanket), Daniel's beach ball, an ice cream bucket full of toys, etc. Kinda funny. Cute boys, but they do kinda kill me with how slow they are. It was snowing by the time for school so Daniel and Peter outfitted themselves with snowpants, boots, coats, the works. Made them a little late. K was still asleep, so I left her home with Corey, dropped the boys off at the bus stop, and took Corey's car and left with Sophi to get a Tdap shot at 9. There were a few texts going back from neighborhood mom's that the bus was stuck and late, and when I was shoveling and when we were running into the hospital from the parking lot, the snow was super wet and heavy. I was thinking the boys were probably totally soaked. They told me about their adventure later tonight. The bus was late, and Molly's mom came to the rescue picking up all the kids, piling them in her car and taking them to school. I was glad that they weren't out there for 30 minutes! That was what time I was back home. I was glad that her shot was quick. We got back home and then Corey took her to school. Then I took a nap while K kept sleeping, she didn't wake up until 11, yay, that was helpful. The rest of the day I was kinda sluggish, didn't help that Abi made cookies. I scarfed a few of those down, then they helped me finish shoveling driveway, I've done a bit of blogging while the girls play Christmas music. Their music is always too loud for me. Esp the All I want for Christmas is You - I feel like saying "I hate that stupid song" Katharine drew on her doll again. 

And all over her own arm. She's exploring drawing on walls and toys and herself, so she's right on track for being a two year old. Good news, I coated her dress with spray and wash and was relieved that it all came out of her dress, yay. Going to go try and take care of kids for a bit now. 

"Last Ride"

Corey and I were watching the weather this weekend and it was 60 today! And forecast says there will be snow tomorrow. So... this is our last chance! Thus we took another "last ride" today. We did a repeat of our Saturday ride, parking a bit before the tollbooth, riding up to the Rattlesnake Gulch trailhead, up the switchbacks to the Pipeline trail. Today we took it west to the peak at the beginning of the canyon, then turned around and rode it all the way east until we got to the elbow! It was a serious climb. 15.68 miles, 1781 elevation gain. Took us 2 hours 10 minutes. Here we are at the elbow, with sunset upon us, and so we've just got 10-20 minutes to make it back to the car before dark. Luckily that's pretty easy via the road.

Let's keep it under 30 mph, allright? I was surprised to see the road was not plowed. We were riding in a winter wonderland! We were glad the trail e climbed up on the north side of the mountain wasn't snow covered like this. But it felt kinda hardcore, so it was fun. We didn't slip and slide. 

And when we got to Maple Grove where a winter gate was blocking off the road to cars. Ah ha. So I learned that this is the Millcreek Canyon Nordic Track in the winter. Fun! Someday maybe we'll get fat bikes and do winter riding around here. So we were riding for 2 plus hours, plus the car drive out and back. We also went to Macey's to get a treat for FHE. So, we were gone for a bit. Corey said we should probably stop pretending that we're retired. But we've got good babysitters, so it's ok, right? As we pulled up we were a bit surprised by what was happening at home with our children. Owen was throwing the carved pumpkins from his open window onto the driveway. 

"Hey Owen, don't do that. Close your window" He pointed out that a pumpkin was stuck on the roof. Corey said he'd get it. Ahhh, I'm glad Peter and Daniel weren't in there with Owen, they might have gotten a little too excited over the open window. Ugh, so, calmly bring them back inside. Daniel went out to help Owen put all the pumpkin pieces in the garbage. Another mess that was waiting for us - Katharine drew on her dress. I wouldn't have really minded this IF she was open to wearing other dresses to church. So we'll see what this Sunday looks like, if she: wears a nightgown, wears a colored on dress (Maybe spray and wash will get it out? but I doubt it) or maybe something new? Pretty please Katharine? 

Aww what a sweet little face. We have trouble standing up to her. She drew on her baby too, all over the face. I was glad that washed off with the magic eraser, yay.

Otherwise this baby would shortly be retired to the trash. Cause I kinda hate toys with pen or marker all over their faces. (see Lily's baby and Woody). I got that fixed, Baby will have to deal with blue clothes now, cause I'm not sure if that will come out in the wash. Then we got dinner and dessert ready. I picked up Pumpkin cream rolls and butter pecan ice cream and caramel, and we made a fall dessert. Kids approved. 

Kids ate it as they cut out leaves for our Thankful Tree that I made today, you can see it on the coat closet door behind Daniel.

Boys were still proudly wearing BYU Blue today and feeling thankful for that holding call, haha. Abi stayed home sick today, her sleeping with K on the floor this morning, where the essential oil diffuser peppermint can try to help her congestion. 

K loves to sleep with Abi. So with Abi home, I was tempted to try and go on a ride solo earlier during the day around 11, cause I wasn't sure if Corey and I could get our act together to go together, but I'm glad we did. It was good. Corey had taken the van, I loaded up our bikes on his car at home, and brought A&K along with me in Corey's car, we met at Skyline to pick up Lily from school, then ALK switched over to the van and Abi drove them back home, and Corey and I went to the canyon for our ride. Glad we got one last ride in. I've got a 5 am appointment at the Jordan River temple for initiatories in the morning. Years ago, when we were in the "pink house" and I had JMEH at home, the only time I could go was Tuesday mornings at 5 am, and I remember I really liked going at a set time each week when I knew I wouldn't be missed at home, so excited to give that a go again. 

BYU vs Utah

We stayed up late last night/this morning (2am) watching the BYU-Utah game, and wow that crazy. 

BYU won 22-21, and once again it came down to the last minute. Ethan had two tickets and so he and Bella were at the game. Fun for them!

He was also able to give us a live feed from the stands, like the U's student section chanting f BYU and f the Mormons. Near the end of the game, aka midnight, Ethan and Bella wanted to beat traffic so they left quickly after the quarter back got sacked on a 4th down and it looked like it was game over. Yet this is a big rivalry game, and much like 2006, it ain't over till it's over, not even with seconds on the clock! Here's the last 3 minutes of the game if you haven't seen it. Ethan didn't stay long enough to know that there was a holding call on that play (at 1:20), which gave BYU their 1st down and kept the game alive. They were confused to tune in, as they were driving home along Foothill Blvd, and learn the game was still going? and that BYU had possession?? Corey and the kids stayed over at Wayne's watching the game until past midnight. Most of the kids fell asleep but Corey's screaming "GO GO GO GO!!!!" woke them up. They've never seen their father like that. Kick is good! (4:10) I stayed home trying to work on a lesson I was giving today in Relief Society (on Bishop Burge's talk) but for the last few minutes of the game, I tuned in via KSL radio. When I heard all the screaming after the kick I thought he must have missed, but no, there were enough BYU fans in the crows that that was them screaming. It was a game full of passion on both sides. Also crazy how in the final minutes, BYU called a time out, but the officials didn't hear it cause the stadium was so loud. Comment from instagram - this one talking about people saying their prayers tonight: "Thankful for this day. Thankful for that holding call..." "The church became true again in that last minute. First 3 quarters had me questioning..."

Comments about the game: "That was not pretty but I'll take it" "Our worst game yet and they STILL couldn't beat us" "I thought nothing good happens after midnight. They lied." By the time Corey and kids got home, the game highlights were on youtube, so we watched that. 

Fun to see both teams in full colors!

Re-living the highs and lows of the game. We're grateful BYU came out on top this year! I'm not sure how Owen would have handled a loss. Lily made this picture for him. I don't think she knew the significance of the number 26.

Ethan said that when Owen turns 26 we all need to go out to eat, haha. Ethan and Mel shared the BYUROC instagram page which showed the party in the streets that was going on in Provo. Sports Illustrated article today by Joe Wheat was funny. "Students flooded the streets of Provo until 5 am and were still in their seats for 9:00 am church." Comments in Instagram and on youtube made us laugh too. "The crazy thing about this is everyone's sober!" On the internet, commentators have been calling this "the holy war" including in that SI article. As we were reading it, Corey said "No one calls it 'The holy war'..." They're trying to get people to call it that. Then after a pause he said "... but if it is a holy war, they should be the infidels..." Haha! We were laughing. Well, some of us were sleeping. Daniel snuggled up on Bella.

It was a long evening for little girls.

We left everyone to sleep where they fell. So it was a fun day yesterday. A few other details from yesterday - after our date on Friday night (Aubergine in Draper), Corey and I went by Harmons and got stuff for a nice sit down breakfast. Peter asked me this past week if we could ever eat at the table again, which pricked my mother heart and let me know I've been slacking on sit down dinners. So this was a first step to make that up to him. Corey made crepes and whipped some cream, we got out nutella and strawberry jam.  I cooked sausage, put clementines into a bowl, and cut up Lucy apples! (Discovered them this past Monday at Wellness night, and yay I did find them at Harmons!) They are yummy! I currently enjoy them as much as Pink Lady apples. While we were getting food ready, we turned on the Cougar Fight Song. Owen, who is always our first one up, was all dressed and ready for the game tonight, and he came dancing down the stairs doing a little dance. I laughed, made him go do it again so I could record. He's fun. I'm not sure where  this little 9 year old learns these moves. Ok, breakfast time!

Chore went well yesterday. Hopefully they'll keep it up, and if kids are helping me out, then I can start focusing on meals a bit more. 

Abi left for GMS, and after breakfast the girls went back to bed. That was a little disappointing. When I got them up (after 11:30) I told them this was not what I was going for. Corey and I went through this extra effort to help us all get up and going. We'll try that next week. Kids eventually did their chores and practiced. They were done at 3, and then they went to Wayne's house to rake leaves before watching the game. 

I'm glad they were able to help. 

While they were raking, Corey and I went on a bike ride, cause it was in the low 50s today, yay! We drove to Millcreek canyon, parked before the pay booth, biked up to Rattlesnake Gulch Trailhead, and then up to Pipeline. We were able to bike it all the day to the Birch Hollow Trailhead, close to Porter Fork. It was muddy in a few spots, but mostly really good for November and we were grateful to be able to get out. Then I dropped Corey off at Wayne's and I took the bikes home and worked on the RS lesson. Kids eating pizza last night:

Then they watched a Bourne movie and then it was game time. Mel came up to watch the game with them.

So it's been fun processing the game today. Mel, Ethan and Bella all slept over last night and have been hanging out today. Girls in their favorite past time together - watching reels. 

I took a long nap, I was tired cause of the 2 am bedtime and then I got up at 7:30 to finish lesson thoughts. I was glad Mel was here to be my replacement while I slept. Ethan and Bella headed back around 6 and Mel is still hanging out with us. We love having college kids home and it's fun to have three at BYU right now and to be able to cheer for their team. Way to go BYU. Even Katharine learned last night how to jump up and down and shout "B-Y-U! B-Y-U!" That was fun

Lovey-Dovey

We gather together every night in the side room. Corey usually has some videos to share and current events. The kids are usually loud. The boys throwing balls around, Katharine jumping and laughing, girls fighting over pillows and blankets. Tonight they were being especially lovey-dovey. It was cute.

It was still loud, but it was a good loud and didn't irritate or frustrate us. 

They reminded me of the sisterly affection shared among the girls in the "Little Women" movie. I don't recall ever being like this with my older sister, and then I had a brother next in line and then two younger sisters. I don't remember being huggy with them either, so maybe that break in females made it less likely to happen? Abi Lily Sophi Natalie are four in a row. 

I think it must come from Corey's side, cause I remember seeing him sitting on his older sister's lap and snuggling, and all of their girl cousins snuggle sometime with my girls. I have to remind my self to give my older kids hugs. I'm pretty good with toddlers and babies. Over the summer I had the kids help me out by having it be one of their chores to give me a hug. That worked pretty good. I should prob add that to the chore board tasks. The chores board is going well. 

The stickers that I used for these magnets are from a book of stickers from walmart (Pen + Gear 15-Page Sticker Book, 500 Stickers, has purple flowers on the cover). I found a second copy of the same sticker book in Lily's room with the blank stickers, so I'm going to make some more magnets, improving on some of them that aren't working great for me (I can't see the chores cause the writing is too small and some of the colors are too dark. But it's going pretty good. Still need to work on possible rewards or what consequences are for kids that are being slackers. 

Two Dresses

Katharine currently has two dresses that she will wear. She has her Moana nightgown, which is her #1 favorite. And her pink dress. She wore her pink dress to church on Sunday, then changed into Moana dress for Sunday afternoon. I was able to wash "Moana dress" Monday, and our clothes dryer is currently broken, so I've been hanging clothes up to dry, but she needed it so she put it on while it was still wet. She admitted it was "A little cold" but we bundled her up in her blanket and she was fine, while her hot little body made the moisture evaporate. When I told her we were leaving the house on Monday, for the Wellness night, she took off Moana and put back on the pink dress. She wore that Monday evening, all day Tuesday, and has been wearing it yesterday and today as well. Yesterday we went to a farewell visit for a lady in our ward who is moving. Kathy, who hosted Bella's bridal shower, hosted this one too. 

I took K downstairs and showed her a very cute little house that they have for their grandkids. Katharine was thrilled!

I remember being at Kathy's house years ago and it was probably Natalie who played here then, Abi remembers coming over to play here too. 

It's so adorable. I would looove to have a little house like this in our home someday. So that was fun for K. 

I liked these narrow toy bins that were on their walls. Gonna get those too.

After that we went home for lunch, then around 2 I took her to the church to play with toys and I read my scriptures there. 

The plan there was for us to go meet the boys after school, then head to Wayne's house where the kids could play and hopefully work a little bit too helping Wayne, while I took Owen to his trumpet lesson, and then we'd head home after that. 

Tuesday morning it was looking a bit dirty, but oh well. Lily said home Tues not feeling well, and so I  was able to go for a walk. When I got home, K was telling Lily about a scary dream she had, where a dinosaur ate her dress!!

I recorded Katharine talking to share with the college kids. Joseph said it was the cutest thing he'd heard all week, and commented how lucky I am that I get to play with Katharine all day. I totally agree. I love being a mother! It is the BEST calling in life!

Here she is taking a nap in her Moana dress today, with her pink elephant and snuggled in her pink blanket.

K asleep in the chair with Sophi on the floor - This was around 4 pm. I had left to go to temple at 3:30, and at that same time Corey was headed home to get his bike and hopefully go for a ride. He wasn't sure if he'd be stopped by K wanting him. He was able to make it out unscathed.

It's really cold outside. In the 40s. But Corey's diehard. More power to him. I'll do handstands and stuff inside, and maybe go on a ride if it ever gets in the high 40s or low 50s. Today was too cold for me to want to join him. I am itching to go climbing though. I hope we can start going soon! We're trying to resist until they offer a Black Friday deal.