Reading, Writing and Fuzzies

Owen is loving kindergarten. He comes home and writes his name and writes the alphabet and writes his number "22" - it's like a whole world of learning, writing, and drawing, has finally clicked and opened up to him and he's loving it. Today before school, he took a calendar off the wall and was pointing to Sept 22 and said "That's me!" Yep! You're #22! That's right! He's also been using his leap frog magnet backpack to draw words and practice letters. He's had this toy backpack for over a year but now he's discovered what it is for! This is his drawing of a dragon, and a little self portrait there in front of him holding a sword. So cute

He's pointing to the dragon's claws - "He had pokies."

Today I took a few photos as I walked him to the bus. He is using one of Joseph's old backpacks, which (since it is for a high school kid) almost goes down past Owen's knees.

It kinda looked like a turtle shell! It was super cute to see him skip up the street.

Today we also harvested our milkweed seeds. I've been excited about milkweed since 2012. We finally have lots of milkweed in our yard, but I am so sad that we didn't have any monarchs this year. I hope they are ok! I'm sure the fires in California have caused much damage to people, animal, plants, and insects. It's sad to think the monarch numbers are down so low. I have kinda stopped looking for eggs, maybe I'll look again a few times, cause there's still a chance! There's still hope. Ok, I'll go look and will pray and I'll keep planting milkweed and hope that they help the cycle somehow. I had like 8 pods - 3 from our yard and I grabbed 5 from some plants on the way to the bus. I took the seeds and then let the kids play with the fuzz.

We get snow in winter (real snow), spring (from out cottonwood trees), and in fall!

Blowing the snowflakes and fairies.

Snow ball fight!

Today was a rare treat after Owen left for school, cause both Peter and Daniel took a nap! I was kid free for like an hour! Owen left for school at 12:20 (bus comes at 12:34) then I came back and put Peter to bed. And around 2:00 Daniel put himself down for a nap on the couch. 

He got up early this morning, so I am glad he took a nap, or he would have gotten really cranky around dinner time. I'd like him to wake up early every morning so that I can have this hour of quiet, but Daniel usually sleeps in until 10. So we'll see if we can get our whole family on a good schedule. We've read scriptures earlier at night, which has been making us head to bed as soon as it's dark. We've had kids in bed by 10 two nights in a row! That's pretty amazing. They are all doing great. Tonight Owen shared his desk with Peter, which was so cute to see. 

I love these three little boys. 

Owen teaching Peter the ABCs

How wonderful that we did have a repeat of Monday's "good day!" My heart is full and thankful for the little joys and quiet moments of this blessed life. 

Shout Out to Socially Distant Primary Teachers

I thought I'd do a quick shout out to the kids primary teachers. They are still magnifying their callings even with social distancing. Today Daniel's teachers brought him by some Hot Wheel cars for a birthday present! And he shared with Owen, yay!

Pretty cool cars, Daniel! It's almost your birthday!

On Sunday, Peter's nursery teachers brought him by a card, lesson, and some fruit snacks. Peter is 18 months old, so yeah, I guess if we ever go back to church, he'll be in nursery! They brought by a little "welcome to Primary" note and lesson of things for him to color.

The nursery teachers are still Jean and Jim, he's a tall basket ball player in our neighborhood (last pic). I wonder if Peter will be shy to go to class? He's a little shy, but I guess Owen was too, but once he got to know his teachers he loved it. Also, moving from Nursery to Sunbeams is a kinda hard move for the kids, to have to go to class instead of play with toys, but now that church is/was just 2 hours it wasn't so hard. Plus the sunbeam teachers do a really great job. Sister Anne and Sister Holly have been faithfully delivering Sunbeam lessons each week to our front door, they are wonderful. 

I want to do a better job instructing my kids at home, like really preparing lessons and having fun activities. Maybe I'll do it as a grandma, but hopefully I can make steps to improve now too.

A Good Day!

Tonight after dinner, Natalie needed some help with her math. Lily jumped up and said "I'll help her!" and she did and it was so sweet. A little bit later, there were little kids all over the floor in Hyrum and Wesley's room reading. 

Natalie had read a book to Owen, and then they were all reading on their own. I love their little kicked up feet - 

Peter flipping through a book, awww... 

I love his little feet!!!

As Lily came up to bed tonight, she looked at me with a smile and said "Wow, today was a really good day!" Natalie also came up to me after reading to Owen, and said the same thing "Today was a good day!" And it really was a very nice day. The house is pretty clean, the kids have been working hard and practiced and were being very nice to each other. We were all feeling happy and weren't quite sure why. I said maybe it was because they had cleaned their room all the way over the weekend, so it was a nice clutter free and stress free area, and it spilled over into other areas of the house. We finished getting all of Abi's stuff moved out. We moved the black desk into Abi's room and the white ikea shelves into the girls room. I had all the girls stay and help with the process and we organized all their clothes that have been a mess for forever. We took out a lot to donate and sorted things to save. This morning when they woke up for school, they kept it clean and put things away! So maybe that started the day off on the right foot, but I also pointed out how much they had helped each other today... "That was so nice of you to help Natalie with her math!" and to Natalie "You were so sweet to read with Owen!" Serving each other is a great way to feel good and help others feel good too. There was a lovely spirit in our home. The little boys played nicely on the trampoline today. 

Sometimes I get a little nervous for Peter, cause O and D are not very careful, but Peter holds his own. 

We had violin today and Owen was a little sad to come with us, cause that meant he didn't get to ride the bus, which was cute. The things that are important to a 5 year old. He played train though and twas happy there. At home for dinner, then I gave them all a bath, we cleaned up the kitchen, they were all reading books, Corey came home late and was impressed with how well things had gone at home. I was impressed too. I hope to have a repeat!

Family Days

Today was another wonderful Sabbath day of home worship. I love family days. I enjoy partaking of the sacrament at home and having church at home, it's really special. We still have the sacrament trays here. Did I mention before how that happened? So back in March, Ethan did home sacrament on that last Sunday before covid suddenly shut everything down (where he took the sacrament to elderly couples and people that are sick and unable to come to church. That Sunday, he didn't want to take the trays back to the church after he was finished cause he was just going to do it "next week" and then there wasn't a next week and so we've had them since March. Right now, since our ward has split up the meeting into two groups (via last names that start with A-J meeting at 11:00 and K-Z meeting at 12). So since our meeting are still split in half, they don't need all the trays at once, so I'm sure it's ok that we have them! Atleast I'm telling myself that... we didn't ask permission, but I did confess that we have sacrament trays to our ward RS President. She didn't really give the ok, but they kinda laughed at our good fortune, cause with such a large family, having the small cups and tray really helps, and I wash the little cups each week. We took the sacrament once up at Park City without enough little cups for everyone and it doesn't work as well. If we just had one big glass that would work, but the big kids are too afraid of little kids germs to share. Anyway, so yea it was a nice day at home. Melodie came over yesterday for her P-day and spent the day with us. We caught her taking a nap on the couch, which in my day would have been a big missionary no-no, but I guess so would have been phoning home every week, so it's prob ok - we'll let her govern herself. We were only missing two kids for family scriptures last night. Cute seeing Wes' face as he plays with Peter

It's still a bit strange feeling to have the three oldest mostly gone. We're a small group on most week nights now, although I realize we still have 9 kids here at home and that that would not be small to others, but it feels small to us. It is quieter and less crazy. But just a little bit less crazy. Now and then we get a little bit of quiet. 

Now that Owen is a serious student of the alphabet, he has discovered and gained a great interest in the ABC books I made for the older kids. He was reading it to Peter last Friday morning at breakfast and it was so cute, I was laughing. He'd read "Ok Peter - this is J! J is for Car!! (It was Jeep... he'd turn the page...) G is for Church (that one was supposed to be GIRL - but it was a photo of Joseph and Melodie in their Sunday clothes for a family photo, hence "church" ha!) It was so funny. Corey watched him on L - Owen said "L is for Tiger" It was Lion and Corey laughed "Ooh! I was sure he'd get that one!" Owen did get P is for Popsicle right! 

We'll have to read the book with him more so that he knows what each one is for. Natalie know how to read, so it was cute to catch her reading Joseph's book to Peter on Saturday morning. "N is for nose!! Where's the baby's nose? Good job Peter!" 

"Where is your nose Peter?"

"That's right! Nose!"

Lily's book is the last one I made. I do still want to make them for Sophi Natalie Owen Daniel and Peter, but man, I'm really behind! I can do it! Maybe I can vow to myself to do atleast one by Christmas. Last year I started trying to make them online but I haven't finished those or worked on them much since then. Corey reading Hyrum's ABC book to Peter, who just was fighting the drowsiness but finally succumbed. 

Sweet little Peter.

I wonder if Natalie is comfortable reading like that over Corey's shoulder but her body on the couch behind her, funny. It looks like Corey grew a second head somehow, a little head with curly hair.

We put curlers in Natalie's hair last night again. The little girls have rediscovered the fun of sponge rollers. She's a little adorable Shirley Temple

I told her if we did it on Saturday night, then it can be crazy curly on Sunday while we're at home, and will be pretty curly by Monday for school. Today Corey gave his daughters the rings he bought for them. Sophi with her rings. 

It was funny... Corey called everyone down, and they came, and they thought we were going to read scriptures or something. 

but instead Corey just announced to the children how much he loves his daughters as he gave them each a present. 

Hyrum was like "Anything for us? ...or is there any reason why we needed to come down for this?"

"You didn't get anything for us?" "No, I just wanted you to come so you could learn that you need to treat girls special." 

Wes, did you learn what you need to learn from being here for this family gathering? haha

Hyrum and Corey made me laugh with the little exchange they had going on. I am going to try to find something for my boys. But I think what they'd really appreciate is time to play the minecraft, and I think that's stupid, so maybe I can't get them anything that would be good. Oh well. 

And no family day is complete without the toddlers being held in time out, just like the good ol' days of toddlers past.

Weekend Pics

A few pictures from this weekend. Peter yesterday morning (so much for him sleeping in his new bed) I'm probably being a push over, but he might be our last, so I'm kinda babying my baby while I still have one. 

He's so pretty.

Zombie baby.

I put curlers in Natalie's hair last night. She looked like Shirley temple this morning, and she wans't quite brave enough to go for that looks, so she put it in a pony tail.

It is fun though, she is smiling behind that mask. Last night I'm proud to say that I helped Sophi with her egg drop. Usually Corey does it and I am reluctant since it's optional and we don't have time for things that aren't required. But with Mark Rober's help, we had a great model. 

I was too cheap/lazy to run down to the store or Wendy's to get straws, so we used my milkweed stalks. They worked perfectly. We did a few practice throws out of the big boy's bedroom window, and it survived each test. So Sophi was off to school with her egg drop, which she named "the green spider." Here's Natalie last night after her hair had calmed down a little bit - she's so cute! She is already thinking about what she will be for Halloween. Maybe a cowgirl? 

They always like me to take pictures of them. 

Last night on date night, we went to Fashion Place Mall, and as we waited for a seat at the California Pizza Kitchen, Corey and I wandered into Macy's where we bought some fancy rings for the girls. I remember my dad giving me some sparkly rings when I was a little girl, I remember what they looked like and I drew them for Corey during our date. I have bought some pretty boxes a while ago, so we're going to give those to them too. Should be fun.

Wesley tickling Peter on Friday night.

Peter loves Wesley.

September 11th

September 11th is always a somber day. Most of us are reflective and remember where we were when we heard of this attack and tragic loss of life. It makes us remember the fragility of our existence and that things can quickly change. How in an instant priorities can dissolve and the things that we weren't paying much attention to become the most important of all. Life is important. We are important. We are in God's hands, and even in tragedies, we can see Him seeking after us. I don't believe it is always wicked people who die or righteous who are spared. Maybe sometimes the righteous are taken cause their work is done, and those of us left behind are given more time to repent and prepare for when we are eventually called home. Some may argue there is no God or purpose or misfortune in any of this life. One thing is certain, we will all die. None of us have any power over physical death. I'm grateful to believe in the Savior Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us all from physical and spiritual death (mortal death and our separation from God's presence). He paid the price to justice for us. If we repent, trust him, and make a covenant with him, he will show us the way we can go back to our real Home to stay.

There's my thoughts at the moment. There were lots of thoughts and people sharing on facebook their memories and experiences on September 11th. This is one post that I liked and gave us who remain a good perspective to consider during our remaining days:

The head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started Kindergarten. Another man was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts. One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off on time. Another was late, stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an accident and his life was spared. One missed his bus. One spilled food on her clothes and had to take the time to change. One's car wouldn't start. One couldn't get a taxi. One went back to answer the house phone. A man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning developed a blister before he got to the Towers, so he stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.

When you're stuck in traffic, oversleep, miss your ride...all the little things that annoy you...maybe you're exactly where you're meant to be at that very moment. May all who perished on 9.11.01 Rest in Eternal Peace & may the loved ones still grieving find strength.

In His Own Bed?

With Mel gone now (MTC at Corey's parent's house) I gave Abi permission to move into the bedroom with the little boys. But we had originally been planning for that room to be the little boys room. But three little boys in one room together would only work if they are well behaved and go to bed willingly. I don't think we're there yet with Daniel and Peter. Mel let us know that Daniel kept her awake many a night. But Corey really wants Peter out of our bedroom (yes I'm still nursing him) so we're gonna try. But I still think he'd need some older sibling supervision if he's not in our room. So I did decide for Abi to share the little boys room with Daniel (top bunk) and Abi (middle) and Peter is going to be on bottom. This is your new bed, Peter! What do you think? Here he is trying out the bed yesterday.

Owen helped him know how having a bed is done... "It's easy. You lay down in it, and then you stay in it. So simple!"

I tried to help Peter sleep in there last night. He cried, Abi got out of her bed and tried to help him, Then I heard him and came and got him and brought him in on our floor. I'm down to mostly just nursing him before bed (occasionally for naps if I'm feeling desperate). We moved Owen from the top bunk in the little boys room into the middle bunk in the big boys room with Hyrum and Wes. That was a spare bed for Joseph or Ethan to use, but they both preferred the blow up mattress, so now it's Owen's bed. Owen is still loving kindergarten so much. He is not understanding directions, but that's ok cause he's so cute and he tries. 

Going over his homework. He didn't do it right, but he still gets an excellent mark, cause we love kindergartners. I love his name on top.

Here he is at the bus stop with his friends today. 

It seems like most days, he is the only one there, but that's ok. I'm enjoying our brief lunchtime walk up the street and he finally knows to wave to me now as I'm walking home and he's in the bus going around the block. I wish I could get a photo of his cute little silhouette waving at me through the bus window as they drive by, it's one of the highlights of my day. 

Today I sent Ethan a package of a jody jazz mouthpiece and some reeds. He said it was an emergency so he messaged us yesterday and today helping me find the right things to send. And today I also finally was able to drop off a donation to the DI, yay! They are really booked with donation times so it was like two weeks out and I've had quite a pile of junk. I'm going to schedule again soon, maybe I'll give myself a bi-monthly drop off to make sure we keep things leaving this house and not just coming in! 

Melodie Set Apart

Melodie is officially on her mission. She was set apart tonight and then left with Corey's parents to start her online MTC experience over there at their house like Ethan did, in their nice quiet house.  

I sent a message to Ethan to let him know what time Mel was getting set apart, in case his mission President would let him call, and he did get permission, yay! So this was the only other pic of tonight cause my phone was turned into Ethan's virtual presence. 

President Hill from the stake came over to set her apart. My parents and Corey's parents were here. After the setting apart, she's official - she put on her name tag. The church's name is in Portuguese, but it doesn't say Irma Wride, it says "Sister Wride" cause they've adopted that English word into their language I guess, just with a Portuguese accent, sounds like "Sees-tur". Joseph also came up from BYU to join us. You can see him in the background in the first pic above. He was pitching to Hyrum how much money Hyrum will be able to make if he joins him selling pest control next summer. Joseph was here last night too. He flew back in from Florida around 6p, when we were almost arriving at the Great Salt Lake. He took an Uber to Corey's parents house, where he was able to teach his MTC class (He got a job teaching there, he likes it) and then Corey went and picked him up and he stayed here last night. Corey took him to the train early at 7, since we were all up and starting the school day. Oh, so Joseph was flying in from Florida yesterday, cause he went out there last Friday for a little opportunity that happened to open up for him with Moxie (who we bought from on the day that Ethan was set apart... Hmm, we've apparently got some planets aligning around here with pest control and missionaries) -  Last week Joseph asked for our Moxie guy's phone number (Daniel) and so I texted it to him, then they went out to lunch with some other guy in the business, and Joseph might sell with them next summer, or he might do Dewey again, but I think Moxie was trying to recruit him and telling him he could be a sales team leader in Pennsylvania where they are going to open up and would make even more bank with them. Then they were having some thing in Florida and had someone cancel and invited Joseph, so Joseph and his friend Talmage both went to Florida. They took a red eye, got like 3 hours of sleep, then spent a day at Universal (fun). I think that was last Friday. And then whatever meetings and presentations on Saturday. So Joseph was telling H to prepare to come join him and sell next summer after he graduates. Or maybe before he graduates like Ethan, ha, I guess it depends on what the world looks like next spring? It's up for grabs!

So I'm glad Mel will be at a nice quiet place for her MTC study, and she'll still be able to come home on the weekends for the fun and noise of kids crying and laughing and fighting and playing. This morning, Corey was playing with Peter as he ate his oatmeal, at least he tried to, by roaring at him loud like a lion. Peter didn't like that. 

"Oh dear! You're sensitive! I'm sorry!!!"

Peter is the baby of the family and he plays the roll well. He's got us all wrapped around his finger. Now with Mel mostly gone from the house, we are going to move beds around again. Abi is already moving her stuff into what was Owen, Mel, and Daniel's room (O on top bunk, Mel middle, D on bottom) and she will be taking the middle bunk, we moved Owen into the middle bunk in the room with Hyrum and Wes, and Daniel will be on the top bunk and Peter on the bottom, where he will hopefully/eventually sleep. I am still trying to wean him. We are down to just to nursing at night, and sometimes he falls asleep just snuggling (...if I threaten him with the playpen, but after putting him in there for 10 seconds and get him out, he shuts up and is content to just lay by me on the floor) So we're still working on little Peter, he's cute and adorable and I love him.