Acting Out and Making Messes

I got a good laugh out of Natalie and Owen tonight when I saw them playing Rapunzel. The long jumprope was once again the inspiration for the hair. Natalie and Owen were acting out the scene when Flynn cuts Rapunzel's hair after he was stabbed by Mother Gothel. "Let me heal him!!" Flynn lays on the floor, weak and bleeding.

Mother Gothel gives her permission. Rapunzel comes close. Rapunzel gave Flynn a Q-tip so he could use it to cut her hair. "Rapunzel, wait!" They go in for a kiss and start to laugh, then he cuts her hair! Rapuznel become Mother Gothel, cause Natalie is the only actress. She gasps in horror "WHat HaVE You DoNE?!? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE??!?!?" (Natalie liked that part)...

Then she screams as she whithers away and falls from the tower (aka down the stairs) to her death...

Then Natalie hurries back up the stairs to finish the scene.... Now she is Rapunzel again, singing softly to Flynn... "...bring back what once was mine..."

Owen was trying hard not to laugh.

Cute cute kids. So I liked that part about this evening. And then things went well, I thought... around 10:00 pm, we had read scriptures, said prayer, and left to bed at a decent time. I took Peter upstairs to feed him and I was able to read my scriptures while he nursed. (This might be the first time in Come Follow Me that I've read all the assigned chapters!) The older kids had gone to bed, some of the little girls were still awake: Lily was in our room asking Corey profound questions like "Who created God?" as he brushed his teeth. "These are good questions!" was his reply. I got Peter to sleep and then went into the little boys room to put a diaper on Daniel. He wasn't there, and then I got distracted folding their laundry "real quick"... My mom sensors should have been alerted by not seeing the toddlers, but I was entertained by Natalie - she was following Lily's lead and asking me questions. "Who made all the stuff? Like all the houses?" "Well, Jesus made the trees and rocks, and then people use the trees and rocks to make houses." "Yeah... People make the houses. Even a long time ago they made houses, they just didn't always have houses like us, cause they didn't have any of the soft stuff. Except a feather..." (She was saying how they had houses with walls and roofs, but no soft carpet or pillows and blankets, cause all they had that was soft back then was feathers, but I loved the image in my mind... of pioneers with houses made of wood, holding a single feather.) I finished, told Natalie to go to bed, but to first go downstairs to turn off the lights, which would cause any stragglers to come up into their beds. But instead she hurried back up and came into my room to tell me that "Owen and Daniel made a BIG MESS!" Oh darn it, I should have known. I envisioned spilled soy milk or broken bread on the floor. I should have been alerted to mischief when they weren't in their bedroom. I guess I assumed they were in the girls room. But instead, they had been in the kitchen pulverizing corn tortillas. These pictures don't do it justice. I might try to upload the marco polo video I sent to the Moms.

I told them no no no no no no and you go to bed right now! Owen ran up to his room saying "Sorry mom!" and Daniel was still laughing at the fun as he crumbled tortillas over his head. I swatted his bum and ushered him to Lily to put to bed, and told her to get my phone so I could take a pictures. Sigh. I started to sweep. No, wait for a photo. Sigh. Lily came back. And then I said to myself, "Wait, I should make THEM clean it up!" Owen! Daniel! Come back here to clean up the mess! They came down and took the brooms and started to sweep.

Yeah, I need to get the video off of Marco Polo that I sent to the Mom group.

It was worse than these pictures can capture. But I am glad that it was not sugar or juice.

It wasn't anything sticky, so we were able to sweep it up relatively quickly. And I told them to not make messes. It's not nice. "Ok mom, I sorry." So no tacos tomorrow night, I'll have to think of something else for dinner. I also left my planner on the floor last night and they drew all over that and I had to make it again. They're quick.

I'm still doing good at making the planners each week, not doing great at using them each hour, but I plan on kicking it in gear this month with everyone back on schedule. I'll get back on schedule too.

My Investment

Christmas break is over and it's back to normal for everyone. All the kiddos are back in school this week, except Ethan. He's in New Orleans for the JEN Conference (Jazz Education Network). My day started off by getting up at 3:40 to take him to the airport. I went to bed last night at 11 but couldn't sleep, so I decided to transcribe my favorite chapter of Insights so I could share it with Joseph. Insights is a book I just finished about President Nelson. When I was done with that around 1, Lily knocked on my door saying she couldn't sleep. I told her to do her best. I went to bed and was about asleep when she knocked again at 1:30 kinda panicked and saying she felt like she was being watched. So I gave her some church music to listen to, then I struggled falling asleep again. Peter was up a lot last night too - he has a bit of a fever.

So, my day and new year have started off pretty "mom's normal", although I am grateful that there was no throwing up this year on new year's eve (Daniel threw up on me last year, Owen on New Years Eve 2016.) Peter feels lousy and just wants to be held, so that's what we've been doing all morning.

The little girls and I have violin today, but other than that I'm just going to try to get back in routine. I hope we all go to bed early tonight.

I'm am striving against feelings of being stuck and unproductive. I sat on the couch with Peter, I read this post about being a mom that was shared on facebook. I liked it. But I might change it from being condemning to the world for how it might not choose motherhood, to being happy for the choice I've made and that I've been able to have it as an option. Still, I liked it. My favorite part:

The souls that move in bodies in and around my home? They are a legacy and an investment that I do not ever regret giving it all for. When I’m weary and feeling empty, when my life goals feel lifetimes away and my body isn’t the one I hoped I’d have, I can promise you that I wouldn’t give them up for a thousand trips around the world, a perfect waistline, or a name linked to fame.

Being a mom is a blessing that I am grateful to have been given. I don't regret holding my babies when they are sick. I know I am blessed to have this opportunity to be a wife, to be a mom, to have my little ones be my entire focus every single day. Not everyone gets to live this simple and beautiful life and I never ever want to take it for granted. I'm grateful to be a woman and to have this divine calling, and to be able to work during my life serving these twelve kids. Having so many kids is humbling. I'm really glad that I've been able to capture so much of it here on the blog - like 12 years worth! It's a challenge to make the time, but 'll try to keep at it. I'm doing it for my kids, so they can know the younger me after I'm old and so that I can already have something prepared when I can't remember "how I did it" - in case they ever ask. If they do, I am sure I'll just shake my head like "....um, I have no idea..." So yay for having these little posts where some of it is written down for when they are in the role of parents. Ok, that's all Peter is giving me time to write. Have a great Monday!

Later tonight: Corey holding Peter after I got home from violin.

"He feels really warm."

I took his temperature, and yeah, he was. I took his temperature, it was 103, pretty high fever little guy! I held and attended to Peter all evening. I love this little boy. Maybe we'll take care of the house and all the mundane tomorrow.

Spoiled

Here's a cute photo of Wesley sleeping with Peter after school yesterday. It was only a 2 day week of school, but that was still enough to tucker Wesley out. 

Peter LOVES Wesley. He really likes Ethan, Wesley, and Lily. They all love it when I'm holding Peter and he will reach out for them to take him! And I'm always grateful when they are able to give me a little relief from pampering this baby.

Peter might be a little spoiled...  Are you spoiled, Peter?

He's a pretty happy kid. Except first thing in the morning. He always wakes up crying and with a sour face. But then he's pretty good the rest of the day. Tonight I went over some goals with the kids for the new Children and Youth program. Peter helped us. He mostly just likes to play with the markers.

Peter loves markers. The little girls gave him some unsharpened pencils for Christmas (that they had won on Christmas Eve in the saran wrap game). He liked that. I've been a little too lax with the permanent markers lately, and I'm worried it will come back to bite me by me finding marker all over the walls (picture 7) or the carpet. But the girls have needed the markers for various barbie projects, so I've let my guard down, I hope I don't regret it. Do you like their fireplace and mantle?

Or a couch with storage underneath? We got a new piano at Costco for Christmas, and Mel just put it together today, and the little girls snatched up the Styrofoam shapes and put them to good creative use! I was impressed with what they made.

And last pictures for today are these of Daniel during prayer tonight.

He has been been a goof tonight running around with this blanket over his head and Wesley's LBB uniform hat holding it on. Silly boy.

New Years' Day at Brighton

I felt fairly refreshed on New Year's morning. I got a pretty good nights rest, but my feet were a little cold I guess. Still, I was very glad that we didn't have any throwing up during the night! (I got barfed on last year and in 2017) I came out to greet the children and see what had happened to them as they went to bed. Lily was on the floor with Daniel. He still had his boots on.

Owen asleep on the floor - no pillow.

Ethan told me later that he was up past 3am.

He and one of Hyrum's friends were sharing the couch.

 Wes greeting Peter with a good morning hug.

Corey went back home to sleep and was on his way back up with Hyrum. I tried to get kids up to go skiing. Owen was still there on the floor in front of Wes...

But when I told Owen it's time to go skiing, he got right up and eagerly got ready!

Look at that smile, cutie. What a good kid!

 Corey arrived and finished getting kids ready.

 Wes, Corey, Owen, Sophi, Abi, and Mel ready to head to the hill -

On the hill - getting the skis on...

Sophi catching up....

Owen is a good kid.

He gets in between Corey's legs, hold on, and...

....Off they go!

Wes and Abi waiting for Mel.

 

"Come on, slacker!"

 Corey called me after a few hours and I went to pick him up near the main office.

Brrr! How was it?

He looked cold, but still had a twinkle in his eyes and I think there was a smile underneath that scarf.

Usually we drive up to the cabin in our two cars and leave them in the parking lot overnight, and then have to huff it up to the cabin or have someone come get us. This year we rented a SUV with 4 wheel drive. We rented cause we knew it was going to snow, and thus our car #2, the Ford Fiesta, was not an option in getting us up the canyon. That thing is so light, it's like a tin can on the snow. Corey's car died a few months back, so we just had the van. I texted people to see if I could outsource some of my kid passengers, but everyone was already at the cabin or already had a full car. So we went and rented a Acura I think it was. It worked out well. We were glad to have it and we felt independent for the first time ever since we were able to drive up to the cabin without worry of getting stuck! It was great! No fear wondering "will we make it?!?!" in our attempt up the two snow hills to the cabin. If Corey gets a car this year, I think we'll get a 4 wheel drive car. Or we'll rent one again next New Years, cause it was really nice. Eventually Mel and Wes skied back to the cabin. 

All the teenagers visiting...

After Mel was back, Corey asked me to get Lily and Natalie ready to go out with him. Mel then suggested "Do you want to go?" I hadn't thought of that! But... sure! I hadn't come prepared with clothes or skis, but I was able to borrow from Mel and Abi. Lily and I headed out with Corey and Natalie to the kiddie hill

Corey and Natalie on the lift -

Corey skied with Natalie a few times and I went with Lily, then we switched.

Natalie, say cheese!

Joseph called while we were on the hill, it was kinda funny. It was hard to have a good conversation when I had to keep putting him in my pocket while we skied down. Or cause my hand was freezing as I held the phone during the video call. I tried to transfer him to Mel, to chat with her, but she wasn't answering her phone. We didn't say goodbye, he just gave up on us.

When we got back to the cabin, I counted kids, then realized I hadn't seen Owen. "Where's Owen?" "Have you guys seen Owen?" I panicked for a little bit, but then I found him, lost amongst the piles of discarded winter clothing all over the floor. He was hard to spot... pretty camouflaged!

A little easier from this angle

He still had on all his winter clothes. He was sad that we had left him, he wanted to go skiing.

Daniel was sad too. He was dressed and ready to go skiing, but with the wind blowing snow in his face, he didn't even make it down the cabin stairs. Corey said we had to leave him, he would be useless and miserable. So we left them. Sorry kids! Owen forgave us.

So it was another fun new years day. We're looking forward to a wonderful 2020!

Highlights of 2019

Happy New Year! Looking back at all that happened in 2019, the biggest and most wonderful thing was welcoming Peter into our family in January.

Here's some of the highlights with kid milestones, birthdays, hospitalizations, and family fun:

January - Peter born, Joseph is 19 , Midway Ice Castle

February - 20 years! Peaks Jazz Festival
March - Ethan is 17, Peter RSV
April - Ethan in China, Mel GMS Gala
May - Mel graduates High School, Wes as Thor, School is out
June - Lily 10, Wes 14, Corey planned an amazing Youth Conference for our ward, Joseph has been on his mission for one year! Family Vacation to California
July - Natalie 6, Owen 4, Joseph is assigned to the newly created Antigua Guatemala Mission, Hibbert Reunion in Yellowstone, Hyrum at EFY
August - Ethan and Wes survive High Adventure, Fun at Bear Lake on H's birthday, Hyrum turned 16, which means drivers license! Cowabunga Bay, First day of school, Mel is off to BYU
September - Abi is 12, Sophia is 8, Sophi is baptized, Daniel 3, Funtopia, Butterfly Biosphere, Abi braces off
October - Peter has Croup, Funplex, Halloween
November - Abi's dermoid cyst, Hosting Thanksgiving, Park City Skiing
December - Melodie is 19, Temple Square Lights, Violin concert (Tiff's first!), Peter is almost walking, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day

We are looking forward to all the great opportunities and fun memories we will make in 2020!