Summer Break Begins

Happy last day of school to the elementary kids! The older kids still have one more week. This morning I took Lily to jazz band and Wes to seminary, cause Wes hurt his wrist last night at a youth activity when he jumped over a railing and didn't land on his feet. It hurt and so he couldn't drive the stick shift and he couldn't take Corey's car and my car isn't here. Yesterday I took Abi to Costco to buy flowers for their ballroom teacher, who is retiring, and on the way home, the van started going totally berserk. The battery light had been coming on for the past two days, so I had taken it in earlier to get that checked, they said it was ok, so I left, even though the battery light was still on. I went home, got Abi, and we left. As we were driving home from Costco, the tv screen light stopped and Peter was with us in the back and he got mad about that, so we just turned it off and tried to turn on music for him, but then the music stopped too, and then front screen was flashing on and off, the air stopped, the windows wouldn't go down, and DRIVE wasn't working! So I pulled over into a neighborhood and tried to assess what was going on. I called Burt Bros and said I was bringing it back in. I put it in low gear but the engine was still revving, and Peter was still mad about the tv and music and also started crying for a drink, Abi gave him one and as he was drinking, the car lunged forward and he spilled water all over his shirt and started screaming. The lights on the flash board lit up, like one that said I was driving in slippery conditions, it was flashing "FCW System Failed" and it was just nuts, esp with Peter screaming in the back. So I put on the hazard lights and drove it in low gear straight to Burt Bros and we left it there overnight. They called me at 10 today and said they test drove it this morning and there were no lights on and it was working fine, and they looked under the hood and wouldn't find anything wrong there either. so... "you can come pick it up" Ahh! SO that is really weird and I hope we don't die driving it.

So that's why I didn't have my car and took W and L to school this morning. When I came home, most of my LCC route was still in shade so I hurried out for a quick bike ride, and got my best time yet. Mel got the kids up and out the door to school. I had a semi lazy day. The kids were home early at 1:00. Owen crashed as soon as he came in the door. He's been our early riser all year, so yeah, he probably needs a break. 

At 2:00 after school, there was ice cream and a color party at our neighbor's house. The kids threw colored chalk in the air, like last year. Sophi and Natalie had green chalk in their hair and over their clothes - 

Natalie joined in the water fight too. 

Peter had a green popsicle. 

He had just gone #2 again like a champ and expected ice cream, so that worked out great. After Abi and Lily got home from school, I left them in charge and took Wesley to the InstaCare to get his wrist looked at. It wasn't busy in the waiting room. 

But we had a bit of a wait in the exam room. That was ok though, cause Peter kept us entertained with a story. 

He was jibber jabbering about dinosaurs and stuff for like 10 minutes.

They took Wes out for an x-ray, and when he came back, Peter continued his tall tale. Soon the nurse and a doctor were

 back and let us know that Wes had a broken wrist. It is a buckle fracture. 

Wes was relieved that he wasn't just being a baby about how much it hurt. And good news is that he doesn't need a cast. They put a splint on and he gets to wear that for 6 weeks, so that is a fun start of summer for him!

One last fun activity tonight was an outdoor movie at a neighbor's house. Lily, Sophi, Natalie and Daniel went over. 

They had quite the awesome set up in the back yard with hammocks and chair swings everywhere. I spy Sophi!

I'm feeling a little sick. I'd say it was just allergies except for the sore throat. I'm hoping to make a plan of attack for summer. The younger kids brought home summer reading charts and things that their teachers for next year asked them to do, so we'll try to get that organized and we're excited for a fun summer. So summer is off to a good start for the younger kids. It's late (9:45) and Corey's gone to bed (we're going to the temple in the morning, our "last" time before the baby is born.) The kids are all still out having fun. I took a late nap for like 30 minutes at 7pm, so I'm good to stay up until they're back. It's been good cause I have been blogging and AM TOTALLY CAUGHT UP now! I haven't been 100% caught up on the blog for a long time. Like it's only probably happened like 3 times in the past 5 years. It was a "before the baby comes" goal, so good job me!

One More Week

I have ONE MORE WEEK. Some days, like yesterday, I do really well and am productive. Other days, like today, I'm just laying around hoping the day will pass and that Daniel and Peter won't need anything or talk to me. We've been watching our share of Disney movies and Paw Patrol. This pic from our friend Kevin's facebook summed up how I feel, ha

I will make it through this. Just one more week!!! I believe the day will come and I will be delivered. I have been humming Prince of Egypt "Deliver us!" but singing "Deliver me!" Maybe I'll write my own version of the lyrics. 

Today Peter had a successful #2 with no mess in his pants, so as promised, like we did with Daniel, we went to buy ice cream at the store - good job Peter!

He easily chose the Drumsticks, just like Daniel did. Peter carried them to the car. 

They were a bit heavy and he dragged them and the bag ripped, so I helped him out a bit. But he's so cute! He's been doing great at going potty. I've had no diapers for 2 weeks, which is the first diaper break we've had in 22 years. Way to go Peter!

Sharing the spoils of his victory with his siblings. 

Then we hurried and headed out to Abi's ballroom performance. Mel and Wes came in a separate car, I took SN and P with me. Sophi decided to come to this instead of go to another day of soccer tryouts. Lily stayed home to work with Corey on a Summerfest video that she needed to submit, plus she'll see the performance tomorrow at school. O and D were playing with friends. Corey is going to go to Abi's performance tomorrow. Abi in the white sparkly dress

She said it was super itchy, and it was hard cause it was the last dance and dress so she had to wear this one the longest, but it was pretty! Sacrifices we make for fashion. 

Taking a bow. 

Peter was perfect and sat quietly and clapped through the whole show, and then fell asleep right before it ended. 

It didn't look comfortable to me to have his cheek on the arm rest. Cute boy.

My parents came and watched the performance tonight, but they had to hurry out after and we didn't get a photo. and when I tried to get a pic of the kids, they were too distracted by the bag of Lays that Abi had. They were dropping chips all over the floor.

Well, good job Abi. She's enjoyed performing for two years with the Ballroom dance company. Fun stuff. I'm glad she got a second year since last year was messed up with covid. As we were leaving, we played "I spy" trying to find the Wride in the class group photos on the wall. 

Maybe that's another personalized game or book I could make - like a where's Waldo, ha.

It was a busy day, but we're almost done with the school year. The kids were tuckered out after scriptures, 5 kids out for the count (Daniel on the floor in front of them too)

Sometimes we wake them up and make them brush their teeth and get in their beds. Other nights, like tonight, we just left them (except for Peter). They usually make it into their beds by morning. 

One other item for documentation's sake: I sent Corey a text at 1am this morning. He had been snoring so I couldn't sleep, so I finished reading Deuteronomy in my closet, and then I heard Lily yapping it up in Sophi's room at 12:37, so I went to tell them to go to bed, they did, then I went down to sleep on the couch and head something. I thought it was Lily sneaking around some more, so I went to get her, but it was Wes. He had been on Mel's unlocked computer which had been in Corey's office with the door open and also unlocked. He looked guilty, confessed what he was watching, and told me he can't be trusted. Good to know. He also confessed that when he asks to borrow my phone or computer for math that he hasn't needed it for math. So yeah, we'll be doubling down on this again. 

Final Week as Baby

Well, this is Peter's last week as the baby of the family. 

I hope he starts sleeping through the night, cause once the baby is here, I'm not going to be able to help him as much. It's not that bad right now, usually I just need to show him where his pillow is or put his blanket back on. Although sometimes he is just drunk tired and raging at me (first paragraph), but that's been happening less these days. I'm sure I'll still wake up to him, but I just don't think I'm going to be able to help him cause I'll be tied down with the newborn. So we'll soon see how this goes.

He was being snuggly this morning and came and curled up on what is left of my lap as I read my scriptures. We'll both try to enjoy this last week of him being the family prince before he gets bumped from his royal position by the new little princess.

As he sat on my lap, I rubbed his hair and noticed a little bump behind his right ear. It's not that big, and not red, so I'm going to watch it. As of now it kinda looks and feels like Abi's dermoid cyst. This might be a good year to get it taken care of, since we're going to meet our deductible with all the baby bills. The elementary kids have 4 more days of school. Today both Sophi and Natalie had parties/read a thons, so they got to wear pajamas and bring pillows and blankets and fun stuff like that.

I am hanging in there. Today was actually pretty good. I made a goal last week to take stuff to the DI, and didn't do it last week, but did do it today! We loaded up the car. and I left early for my LAST doctor appointment so I could drop it off first, aaaand it was closed. No donations on Monday. Drat. I went to my appointment, it took too long but I'm glad those are over now, and then I went to see if I could donate at Savers in Draper. There had been lots of donations, cause they were still putting things away, but maybe they had gotten enough cause they were closed and weren't accepting more donations. Drat again. I tried one more place, the Savers in Midvale. They had a sign there that their donation center was temporarily closed. Ugh. So I just figured I'd have to take Corey's car for carpool tomorrow morning since the van is now stuck full of junk, and I'm hoping kids don't notice the stuff in there and try to fish it out. Corey is happy that the broken pink go cart that he keeps trying to throw away will be gone. It's lost it's chair and I tried to fix it several times but the kids still use it without the seat. Corey tried to throw it out last month and Natalie saw it and saved it as she chided him "It's Earth Day!!" So I'll be able to save face with her since I'm donating it. With the car full of donations, I had to ditch Daniel when it was time for violin, cause I only had three seats in the back, thus didn't have room for the girls and Peter and him. He went to play at a friends house and it worked out well. I took the whole violin lesson this time. I was just going to play until my hand went numb, which usually happens after 10-15 minutes of playing, but it never went numb. I guess we stopped enough for instruction that it was able to loosen up. Yay, so that was fun to have an hour long violin lesson. My LAST lesson before the baby comes! I haven't had one for months, cause the girls were always getting ready for a recital or federation or something that I felt like they needed the time. But today was my turn and it was great. Sophi and Natalie both fell asleep on her couches and even turned off the light once. Peter came and knocked on the door where I was "It's Peter!" I went out and turned it back on for him. He was perfect and read books while I finished my lesson. She gave me some tips for the last song in book 2 and I hope I'll be able to graduate it and move onto book 3 by the end of summer! Violin is really fun. After violin, Sophi went to tryouts for a competition team called Blue Knights. I didn't love the commitment involved with her team this past year, and I predict that I won't be able to do as much with the baby soon, so I wasn't planning on her trying out for United again - their tryouts are this week too. But she has a friend on the Blue Knights team, so that would make it easier. But we're still hesitant, cause we kinda live by the seat of our pants, and we'd want Sophi to come with us if we decided last minute to go on a bike ride or go skiing, and don't want soccer practices, training, or games and tournaments to keep her from family activities. But we figured it wouldn't hurt for her to try out and then we'll decide. 

Yesterday after church, for some reason we were all sitting around visiting in the front room, and it was fun. Corey got out the game Compatibility for everyone to play - the "Wride Edition" that he made years ago. I was on Peter duty, but enjoyed watching them play. The teams were Sophi and Natalie, Corey and Abi, and Mel and Lily.

Mel and Lily won, but everyone was pretty compatible. We must be related or something. It was fun. :)

Another personalized game we had once was Wride Clue. I still plan on making another one some day when I'm a grandma. I also think it would be fun to make a Wride edition of a Memory Matching game with similar photos from the years. 

Last Weekend of the School Year

The kids had their last Friday of school for the 2021-2022 school year yesterday. Peter and I went over to the school to see Sophi perform in the 4th and 5th grade Patriotic Program - 

   

We've been here before many times. It's kinda crazy being here again. I remember when Mel had her program, that was the first one I went to and that was 10 years ago. I don't know why Joseph didn't have it, cause he did have the float parade. Hyrum also did the float, but no program I guess. I have no record of either float or program for Ethan. Wesley did both. Abi & Lily had theirs together. I wonder if next year Sophi will just do the float parade but not the program? I guess we'll see. So Daniel was still asleep yesterday morning when it was time to leave, so I left him home with Mel and it was just Peter and I who went to the program. Sophi was one of the few students who received the Gold Granite Grizzly award in her class!

And she did that all on her own, I didn't even know about it. I do know about the Young American award and I remember helping Ethan and Wesley both earn that (mostly helping them memorize the Gettysburg Address). I bet Sophi will earn that award next year. She's a self motivated smarty pants. 

Yesterday Owen had a play date with one of his best friends in his class, Zander. They both planned and wore the same shirt to school and his mom got a picture of them after school. Cuties.

Corey and I had our second to last date night tonight "before the baby is born" (I'm counting down everything). I took a side selfie before we left. Will be 38 weeks on Sunday. Almost there!! 

We went to a new place to eat - Eight Settlers Restaurant. It was nice, but pricey. And my salad had waaay too many walnuts. I like walnuts and all, but this was like 1000 calories worth of walnuts. But they didn't serve free bread, bread was extra. I think they should take out some of the walnut budget and move it to the free bread budget. We'll maybe go back sometime. I liked the location a lot, view was nice, food was good but not quite as good for how much it cost. 

And now it's Saturday again. Corey and I went to the Draper Temple and did initiatories at 7:30am. Last night, I went in to tell Mel we'd be leaving early and so she'd be in charge, and then she told me that she scheduled a baptism appointment for her and Abi at 7. This morning Wes told me that he and Lily were going too. So... Corey and I debated if one of us should stay home? But initiatories are faster than a session, the kids will be ok. So I made some pancakes so there was breakfast ready for everyone, then woke up a sleepy Sophi to be in charge. She came down to the couch and then didn't wake up again until after we got home. Natalie called me at 8:15 though, when we were back in the car and on our way back, to let me know that Peter was sad cause he couldn't find me. Natalie kept him safe. We checked Life 360 and saw that Joseph was at the temple too. These kids, on their own, all arranged to go together!

That is pretty cool you guys. Keep that tradition going forever. Kids that go to the temple together will probably keep each other safe and out of trouble in this crazy world.

We beat them home, but soon they were home too and I was so impressed - "Look at us! Everyone up and doing stuff at 9 am on a Saturday morning! WOW!" At 11:30 I took Abi had her last soccer game, then went to Costco, while Corey and MWLSNOD went to Corner Canyon. 

They took two cars, left a car at the bottom then took themselves up to Peakview and rode Ghost Falls down. Natalie accidentally lead them onto lower Rush, so that was an adventure for them! Kids fell off their bikes quite a few times, and I'm sure the toddlers were in the way slowing down more experienced bikers on the trail, but they had a great time and I had donuts for them after they got home. I've been craving the lemon glazed cake donuts from Costco and need to not buy them again, cause I ate almost all of them last time. Today I shared. Lily had a GMS Recital today at 3 that Corey took her to, and I stayed home on kid duty most of the evening. Mel and Abi went shopping and then went to a GMS chamberpalooza thing with Corey and Lily after the recital, then they all went to a Polynesian show thing that one of Abi's friends was performing in. Wes was gone doing yard work, so I was still with little kids and really wanted to do a ride at Corner Canyon, but the daylight was slipping away. Luckily Wes responded to my texts and came home in time for me to do my bike loop here at home. I still had a little bit of sunlight so I rode around some more just here and there and got in over 12 miles. Not bad for an almost 38 week pregnant lady. I'm excited to bike after this baby is out though. 10 more days! Yay

First Grade Magic

We've only got one week left of school for the elementary kids. Natalie already had her grade's big production, Sophi has a performance tomorrow, and Owen's "First Grade Magic" program was today.  He did a very good job. He's sitting on very far right of the top row and snuck a wave at me before it started. Cute kid.

They sang like 10 songs. Owen had an important responsibility of holding the E in the Valentine song. 

And another fun part was wearing their sunglasses as they sang about all the fun they will have during summer vacation.

Daniel and Peter came with me. We played at the park a little bit before the program, cause the school wouldn't let us in. D&P mostly did a good job paying attention to the performance, but Peter was climbing on me a little, which I'm finding a bit exasperating at the moment - something to do with being 37 weeks pregnant. I'm so looking forward to being done with this pregnancy. 13 more days. "Next time" (haha if there is a next time) I'm going to lie to make sure that my 39 weeks mark is not on a Sunday or a federal holiday. If it weren't for that I'd be done in 11 days. 

Another highlight of the week for Owen was that they celebrated his summer birthday on Tuesday. He got to bring a treat (Ding Dongs) and he received a birthday crown and a new set a crayons and he enjoyed being celebrated. Natalie's July birthday was also celebrated on Tues. She took her treats on Monday but they didn't have time, so she ate half of the box (she had 30 treats but knew she only needed 24 and helped herself, I think she shard one with Sophi too). She took the Little Debbie Birthday Cakes as her treat. We have lots of birthdays coming up this summer and they've all already let me know that they want friend parties, and the thought of that at the moment makes me exhausted. I guess we'll tackle that problem when we get there. 

Owen came home with us after his program. The other kids still had a half hour at school, so I helped Owen with his trumpet practicing and then he took off to play. Peter was sitting on the couch with me reading a bug and insect book. 

I recorded him a bit after I was done helping Owen practice. I was just reclining and trying to keep my feet elevated. Peter read the book twice. He's a sweet boy who likes all the boy things - cars, dinosaurs, Spiderman, and bugs.

I only have to make it through one more week of school and carpool, then I can be done. I am praying every day for my water to break, but if not, that the Lord will give me strength to endure. I'm taking a lot of naps and probably eating a little mindlessly as a distraction. Trying to stay calm. 

Porch and Rock

Last Tues, Corey had volunteered to go work in a Church service garden, and he got kids to come with him. I was surprised when they were all back at home 25 minutes later - it was cancelled. But they were ready to work (cause Corey had promise them ice cream), so we had them dig out the weeds for a little bit in the flower beds in the front yard.

I don't know why we seem to have grass growing everywhere in the front yard and backyard where we want dirt, and dirt where we grass is supposed to be. Such a fallen world of weeds that we live in! 

Speaking of things that are fallen, the kids knocked over the front porch railing on yesterday. Owen took responsibility and was very remorseful.

I'm sure it was scary to hear it and see it all fall over. It was bound to happen eventually. Yesterday was the day I guess. 

The kids all ran in accusing Owen of doing it, I asked him what happened, they might have been fighting over the hose and then leaned or pushed against it. Our kids know not to touch it, so a neighbor kid might also be partially responsible, but it's really not anyone's fault. It's been wobbly and weathered for years, barely being held up by a fishing line (end of that post) for a while but I guess that fell off this past winter. It's kinda nice not having it in the way though! It looks a lot nicer from inside looking out the window.

In my attempts this year to get it fixed, last month I had messaged two people who were recommended to me over facebook. I messaged them yesterday to say it fell over and to see if they could come and give us a quote asap, and hopefully they will by this weekend. One of them said that wood is backed up and if we want to replace it with wood, it wouldn't be available until September. Maybe a metal would work, but the house is kinda committed to wood with that big beam on the left that is connected to the house. But again, it's been nice looking out the window without the railing there... maybe we'll just leave it down, and finish knocking down the rest of it by the stairs. We will need something on the right though, cause there's a 12 foot drop to the basement door off of that side. Luckily that part didn't fall over, but the wood there is weak and splitting too. So, yeah, another something that needs to be fixed.

One step in the right direction is that the rock that fell during the winter (first pic) was fixed today. We heard loud noises and then noticed an excavator out the front window.

Daniel, Peter and I went out to watch. The metal on the rock really made a loud noise!

They put it back, tested it's security, moved it back out again, put stuff under, then put it on top again. So it's back in place, but it still looks very top heavy... 

I'm hoping it doesn't fall again any time soon. 

We probably could have had them rearrange the rocks and put it on bottom, but I'm sure that would have taken longer and cost more. As it is, we were grateful to have it put back for just $500. Other quotes Corey got were $900 and $1000. So yeah, that's life. Things are good though, especially when we're able to get out for a bike ride. Corey and I went on a 40 minute ride this morning. He had already left alone, but then had a flat so came back and saw that I was about to leave, so he came on my loop with me. It was good to do a morning ride. I'll be glad when school is out and we can do that more often. We came back and Owen was at the table reading as he waited for breakfast. Such a good kid.

I feel a lot happier when I can go on a ride. I am scheduled to be induced on May 31st, so hopefully I'll have a baby in less than 2 weeks. I'm still here and am hanging on until then. My have hope thought for today is: "My track record for getting through bad days (and past pregnancies) so far is 100%, and that's pretty good."

Daniel's Penny

On Sunday night we had a fun conversation with Joseph and Melodie. After that, we tried to get the kids to bed and ready for the school week, but they were having too much fun talking. Mel and Wes were trying to make a TikTok account for funny family videos, like this one of Peter as a strawberry that we all think is hilarious. We really wish they'd all be quite and go to bed, so that the little boys have an easier time going to bed, but oh well. I got Owen and Daniel flossed and brushed their teeth and sent them into their room to quietly go to bed. A minute later, Daniel comes out holding his throat - I assumed that he and Owen had just been wrestling or fighting and that his throat hurt now, and I'm ready to start venting that "would you all please just get in your beds and be quiet!" but Owen didn't do anything, Daniel was holding his throat cause he had swallowed/might be choking on a penny. "WHY did you have a penny in your mouth?!?! WHY didn't you get in your bed?!?!?" He could breathe fine, he was able to drink water, so it didn't seem to be stuck in his throat. But he did say it felt like it was there and that it hurt. That made Corey think it would be best to take him into the ER for an x-ray, so it was 11 pm and Corey and Daniel left for the hospital, but not before giving the kids a venting lecture of "please when we say go to bed, CAN YOU ALL JUST GO TO BED? and be quiet!??" and "It's late, and now my morning is ruined (won't be able to exercise or get up early) cause I'm going to go to bed super late cause I'm going to the ER right now..." Daniel was a very good patient.

They took an x-ray of his throat, there was nothing there. Then of his abdomen... I spy a coin...

Well, ok, so good, it is not in a dangerous spot for tonight. So that was Sunday night. They said to bring him back in 48 hours for another x-ray to make sure it had passed. Corey and Daniel got back home shortly after 1 am. I read Corey's texts and saw the pictures in the morning, and Corey asked me to be in charge of the follow up/discharge stuff for Daniel. Well, I would rather look through stool that go take a trip to the doctor, so today when Daniel had to go #2, I had him use Peter's training potty so that I could inspect. And, even though it was in the appropriately in the last clump I searched, I did locate the penny. Go me. I didn't really save us any money by not taking him back for an x-ray, cause we're going to quickly meet our deductible when we start paying for the baby's delivery, but I did save myself some time, so yay. And Daniel now has a unique souvenir. 

It's copper finish was somewhat eroded. I guess that's what stomach acid does to copper. So now it's his lucky silver penny. I texted our pediatrician and he said there is nothing else to worry about, so that is over and the kids have taken us a little more seriously the past two nights about being quiet and going to bed when we say it's time to go to bed. We hope that our family bedtime lack of drama and decrease of noise continues to improve from here on out.