Flute Recital

Melodie had a flute recital tonight. I wasn't able to bring a good camera or take good pictures cause I had little kids with me, so this phone pic from after it was over will be our official photo for the event.

I was happy to go to represent the parents of our household. I almost didn't make it out of the house... Natalie was watching me closely but I didn't want to take her. When I finally was able to sneak out to the garage, I was a bit perturbed to find that I couldn't leave cause I couldn't put Daniel's car seat in the back of the car cause the back was full of tools for ice rink construction. Blah! It was heavy and I cursed the ice rink (sorry sweetie) as I struggled to pull them out and tried to find a place for them in the garage, Natalie discovered us before we departed and I was caught, and so she came. We left, but now I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to stay for the recital cause Natalie would be running around. But I told Mel I'd go in and see how long she lasted. The Lord had mercy upon me and she was very good the whole time and Daniel was just an angel. I was able to stay for the whole thing! I grabbed this video of it to share with Corey:

Mel did a great job I thought, but when I told her she shook her head. Sure, I admit that I might not be a good judge since I don't play any instrumnet. They are always so critical of each other and of themselves and notice all the little things that didn't do as planned in their pieces, but to me, Hey, y'all sound amazing.

Happy Baby

As I was getting ready to leave the house today, I set Daniel in his carseat for a few minutes while I helped the girls get their shoes and coats. I came back over and caught Natalie and Daniel having a friendly conversation.

Their polite exchange of pleasantries turned into a baby giggle session. Natalie was just trying to get him to hold her finger, but turns out Daniel's palms are ticklish.

After he laughed at her she decided it would be fun to play tickle with him.

Precious moment if I do say so myself. I love these little people.

(He's so cute!!!!) I hope I have a hundred more just like him! 

Ikea Cups

So, the kids have been playing with Ikea cups for over a month (pic 3).

I hardly have any in the drawer for kids to drink from cause they're scattered all over the house as toys. Owen, always an observant student, quickly learned what cups are really for - to play with.
He is good at stacking, not as good at making castles.

He's also good at getting distracted, giving me a chance to try and gather the cups and put them back in the drawer. Maybe we'll have to move them up to the cupboards so they aren't toys anymore,

Or do I let them stay as toys? Do I buy more? Is it possible that the 40-ish cups we have are not enough to cover drinking demands and cup game needs around here? Silly kids. well, I guess it's good the cups are multi functional.

The Moon

Yesterday when I took Wesley to New Bop we got a great view of the rising moon, it was so big and beautiful!!! Here's my pathetic camera picture of it.

Pictures can't do it justice, but they can sometimes help keep the memory fresh. So beautiful. From home the view of it is never big, cause we don't see it this close to the horizon because the mountains are in the way.... but on the way to band with Wesley, when we were out by the freeway, after we turned onto the on ramp, wow, it was so pretty. I could stare at the moon for hours.

At that time Corey called from Brazil to say hi. It was almost time for him to go to bed since he was 5 hours ahead. Night time, huh? I asked him if he could see the moon. He went out of his hotel and yes, he could see it! He got a picture of it for me ~

So those two pictues were taken at the same time - 5 oclock here in Utah, 10 pm for Corey in Brazil. Pretty cool! He quoted a line from The Other Side of Heaven - "No matter where they send me, we'll be under the same moon." We've survived one week without him, things are going ok, we're all still alive and the kids have made it to all their concerts and to school.... homework is falling behind, but something's gotta give. We're looking forward to the break starting next week.

Melodie is Sixteen!!

Happy Birthday Melodie!

We've got another driver! Well, as soon as she gets her license. She hasn't been as anxious as Joseph was. He got his permit like the first day he possibly could after he turned 15 - Mel just got hers last month. So she's taking her time, going at her own pace, but it will be great to have another driver around here. I would not have been able to survive Corey being gone during these busy weeks of school and Christmas concerts without Joseph being able to drive. He's like having his own car too! Ok, back to Mel. Yes, Melodie, she is 16. Happy happy Birthday Mel! 

It was a busy school day for her - the regular high school stuff from 6:45 am through 2:15, then Joseph took her to GMS - She had a flute rehearsal today at 5:30, so she stayed there and did homework while she waited for the rehearsal time. Then Corey's parents picked her up from there and took her out for dinner. She was home around 7:45 - 15 minutes before I got home with Wesley after taking him to New Bop band in American Fork. My mom came over around 4:00 to bring over some flowers and presents for Mel (and cake and ice cream and pizza too) before I had to leave to take Wes. When we were all home again we sang happy birthday and cut the cake.

I took her shopping for shoes a week ago for her birthday, but they didn't have the shoe she liked in her size, so we were going to order it online, but I haven't done that yet, cause she might want a different brand and style. So, Mel, I still owe you one. We'll try to go shopping after your dad gets back in the country.

Eye Exams and Pizza

Today I finally took the kids in for eye exams. They should have gone in 11 months ago for their yearly check up, but I kept putting it off... "We'll do it once school is out...." "We'll do it before school starts..." "Over fall break?" and then the time would come and either for lack of funds or time I'd postpone. Last month I called our insurance to see if they cover eye exams, and lo and behold, they do! One per year! Sorry kids, I guess we could have/should have done this in January. Ya live and learn.

One fun fact about Dr. Dodds - he's 7th of TWELVE kids! Yay! We're not alone in the world! And see, he is great, seems totally normal! There's a little bit of hope that y'all might turn out okay. So we went in, they all got their eyes dilated which they didn't like - they were super frustrated that with their pupils dilated their eyes couldn't focus to see any words on their phones. And quoting BLR "Now I'm loco crazy!!!" (2:05)

There's no texting when you're pupils can't focus, ha! I joked that I should keep a bottle of it around the house so that if they don't get off their phones when we tell too, we can threaten them that we'll get the drops, ha. Got some shades to help them adjust to the bright new world. I told them they looked like they were Men in Black -

 Either that or they could be 3 blind mice...

Joseph was doing some work for Corey at his office today, so with Joseph busy and all my other babysitters getting eye exams, I was looking at another possible outing that could rival last nights concert. Luckily Corey's parents came to my rescue. They watched the little girls and Owen while we were at the opthamologist. Phew, close call there. It wasn't too bad of an experience over all, except that Google maps led me to their old office address, and we had already been running late from having to wait for Ethan to come back from a temple trip with friends, so we ended up being 30 minutes late, so other than the stress caused by that it was a good experience and I liked the doctor and their office and we will go back there next year. Olympus Eye Associates, two thumbs up. And the kids were being funny after we were done, making me laugh by being movie mouths quoting the Croods ...

Mel knew the lines the best... "I call them 'SHADES'" "The sun doesn't hurt my eyes anymore! Where do you get these great ideas??!" Since I don't have a brain they're coming from my stomach down deep below then up again into my mind..."

To thank ourselves for surviving getting the eye exam hurdle checked off the list finally, we all went over there and enjoyed pizza. I was getting a kick out of Owen eating his pizza like an ice cream cone.

He's a cutie. He did pretty good this week with his daddy gone. He's called me "dada" a few times. Love you cute Owen!

And there was a pretty sunset tonight, God is a pretty incredible artist. All the thought and science that He put into making pretty pink clouds for us almost everynight was a really nice touch, He's pretty amazing.

Christmas Concert

It's that time of year again! School Christmas Concert time!! With Corey out of the country, the duty has fallen to me as the current go to parent to make sure these happen. Joseph has had rehearsals or concerts with Lyceum all this week. He's handled those on his own (thanks Jose) and I didn't go to any (sorry Jose) but Joseph is an old pro at performances. Just another series of Christmas Concerts for him. But Wesley... he is in middle school now and is in the symphonic band and tonight was his big debut!

He wanted me to come. And I wanted to come. But in order for me to attend I'd be accompanied by my full entourage. Take a couple of big breaths, ready to face the crowded kiva, here we go!! But first I had to wait for Joseph to come back with the van.... It appeared he wasn't going to get back in time, so thankfully Corey's dad came by to take Wes and had room for a few more kids, then I took 3 little ones with me in Corey's sedan. I left at 6:50, first to drop off Melodie at Special Needs Mutual (she goes every Thursday evening to a church activity with special needs youth and adults from several LDS Stakes) and then to the concert. Mel had to be at mutual at 7, Wes' concert was at 7:15. I got to the concert in time, but also face a very full parking lot. I seriously was in the very last row of stalls at the group of stalls that was the furthest away from the school entrance as possible. I got Natalie, Owen and Daniel out of the car. Owen wanted to be held. I'm carrying Daniel in his carseat in my right hand and Owen on my left hip. Natalie likes to run away, but she stayed close when I asked her "Can you help me carry Daniel?" So since I hasn't gotten in any exercising today, I counted this as my workout. We made it inside, no seats left (bad idea for the school to have a kiva instead of an auditorium...) We were in the back with all the standing room only people. But I didn't stand, I knelt down behind people and put Owen on my lap, Daniel on the floor next to me.

Joseph and the rest of the kids came shortly after I was there - actually they pulled up when I was almost at the entrance. I beckoned them to come help me with my 3 little ones and Hyrum and Ethan jumped out while Joseph went to park far away with my car. I was grateful to have my helpers when we got inside. Joseph took Owen, it's a two headed monster!

We have a picture of Corey doing that with Joseph when he was a baby, I'll have to find it... Lily helped take care of Daniel for a bit (when she was mad at Sophi for something or other, I can't keep track of what all their squabbles are about...)

Wes was really excited to have all of us there. And I was pretty sure that he was unaware by my facial expressions that I was not very excited about the next 45 minutes. Not that I was trying to hide it. He came over now and then as he waited for his group to perform. They were third up. We tried to not loose track of the little girls or Owen as we waited. Right before Wesley's performance, Sophi had to use the bathroom and took off. Natalie followed her. then I followed Natalie with Daniel in tow. So we finally got to the part of why I was out in public with all these kiddos and I didn't even see it. I did see the bathroom -

And the halls that Natalie took off running down after the bathroom field trip was over...

I was about ready to explode with her... she wouldn't come to me. I probably could have caught some of it the concert but Natalie wouldn't come, I went to get her and she had a mouth full of water from the drinking fountain and spit it all over the floor. I probably could have left it and it would have been mopped up by someone else or dried up by morning but I sighed and got a paper towel and wiped it up, as I kept my hand on Natalie's wrist. Near the end I was dragging her and she's screaming. I picked up Daniel, told Sophi to follow us, people were coming out from the kiva and I lost track of her but did find Joseph and Owen - and Lily and Hyurm. I headed to the car with Owen and Hyrum, Joseph brought Natalie, told me they found Sophi, I was glad to get out away from the crowd and that the trial was almost over. I called Corey in the car and vented to him for 10 minutes as I went to pick up Mel. He was on the bluetooth over the car speakers and Natalie heard him. She said "I want to talk to daddy!" Speak child, and your father will hear you. It was kinda funny having his voice in the car. I'd like it if talking to God was a little more like that, like a conversation. That's probably something I need to work on on my side, I'm sure he wants to talk to me, I need to get better at hearing and listening. Anyway, I was glad to get back home and was glad Thursday was over! Cause tomorrow's Friday which means this week is almost over which means we're half way done with the 2 weeks Corey is gone. We're gonna make it.

Biking Around the House

Owen has been doing great today. Today's been pretty good overall, especially considering it was a Wednesday, which are always very busy. Most Wednesdays I just try to endure. Yesterday Owen was pretty fussy and cried a bit more than he usually does with us, although it's about what he does when Corey is around. Did I tell you Owen got broken from the 48 hours I left him when Daniel was born? He's been a little hard since then. I tease Corey that he was able to ruin him in just 2 days after my year and a half of hard work raising him. It's probably more likely that he's sad cause he's still a baby and his mother has another infant now. Poor kid. As Corey often says when he gives in to him, "I feel sorry for the little guy" ~ he's had to grow up so quick.

So today. I think his fussiness mostly had to do with the fact that he woke up at 3. Ethan also woke up at that time to do homework. So since lights were on, Owen didn't think he had to go back to bed. He was okay for 4 hours, then he took a nap around 7 am, and then the rest of the day was just messed up. The kids have been good at playing with him and keeping him happy.

One of Owen's favorite games is riding the trike around the main floor. It makes a real nice and loud rumbling sound. Kinda drives me crazy. But it keeps him happy, so I get to choose between his crying or rumbling trike. Trike is winning. They're happy, so that's good.

Seagulls

On Saturday evening, Ethan showed us this video. ...and we've been singing it ever since...

Hilarious if I do say so myself. We watched Bad Lip Reading things during the 2012 campaign (of course Mitt was our favorite "They're a bunch of punks!") and watched a few of them this election cycle too - my favorite starts at :52 with Trump doing "Five Favorites". (Time to Act at 3:10 is funny too) Every now and then Hyrum will be walking around the house and will say "Raaaaw". Funny stuff - humor is the best way to cope with elections anyway. But we hadn't seen the Star Wars stuff. Very very clever, and pretty catchy tunes too! I really like "Not the Future" too - makes me feel a bit nostalgic. I liked one of the comments there "What do they put in these videos? so addicting..." The lyrics are all posted in the description. Yeah, were on a BLR binge right now.

Yeah, I was big in Japan
I was king of Ping Pong
Yeah I was bad at tuba
And I’m sure you’d like me to bounce

I did a bit of googling to try to find out about the mastermind behind these. Found this article - he wants to remain anonymous but glad he still does interviews. His story is an great example of how the trials of life can turn into opportunities! He says in this that he started lip reading after his mother lost her hearing - he'd watch tv and push mute to see what her world was like and he started lip reading too. And that article also says that he does all the voices! Whoever BLR man is, he's got serious talent and we like his stuff.

Stayin' Alive

Corey left for Chile this morning. He's going to be in Chile for a week and then fly to Brazil for another week. I took him to the airport at 4 a.m, his flight left at 6. I didn't get a nap today, but the kids are still alive, so that's good. I'm on my own for 2 full weeks. 10 kids and a newborn, a busy Christmas season, performances and concerts... no sweat, right?

 

Should be no problem as long as I keep perspective and channel a little bit of my great grandmother Mary Williamson. Her husband, Ambrose, left her to serve a mission to England for over two years, twice! And she was left on the American frontier raising a family on the farm. I ain't got nothin' to complain about. As we drove to the airport this morning, I also mentioned to Corey a dream that Mary had... Once she had a dream and was asked by an angel what she would like for her faithfulness. She asked for more children, and then went to a pond where there were fish swimming and chose two - one gold one (that would end up being her blonde boy Julian, my grandpa) and a dark one, that would be her dark haired Mark. Corey asked "...So you're saying you want two more kids cause I'm taking this trip?" The way he said it made me laugh ~ no, sweetheart, I'm fine if you want to be done with the baby stage of our lives. We have been doing this for a while, and yes, we're a little old to try and keep it up. Still, I'm willing to revisit the subject in a year or so (not that we're getting any younger... clock is tickin') but I just offer it as a slight explanation for my addiction to babies. It's in my genes.

So, anyway, if I was behind on blogging and life before he left, then it's probably gonna get worse here for the next 14 days. Ya do what you can, I have over a week to catch up with blogging here. Good luck me, and remember, Everything's Amazing!

Tucking in Toys

The concept of a toddler bed hasn't really taken hold yet with Natalie. She's still sleeping on our floor most nights. At times I do consider buying those soft looking pet beds at Costco... I bet they'd be a big hit. Plus it would be nice to free up the bedroom space of the of the furniture if it's not being used. Oh well, we tried. So here is cute Natalie tucking herself in on or floor a few nights ago. Lily, Sophi and Natalie had all been playing with their Beanie Boos that day and it was cute to see them all tuck in their toys to bed. I just love seeing Natalie play with her blue leopard. It makes me pretend she'll stay little for a while longer. Here she is trying to get the blanket just right...

There! Ready for bed! ...Though little Miss Natalie looks wide awake to me...

We tolerate her on the floor cause she stays put and is quiet. Keep it up and you can stay, but once you try sleeping in bed with us, out you go! It's nothing personal, and we do love you, but we want to try and pretend that we have atleast one space in this house that is kid free. 

Sweet dreams

Day of Service to #LightTheWORLD

For some reason I was thinking tomorrow was Decemeber 1st, not today. So when I realized today was the Day of Service for #LightTheWorld, I was caught off guard. Doh! I'm not organized yet again... I'm not ready! I had good intentions yet I'm already running behind. So, what to do. We wouldn't be able to do anything together as a family (not that I had any plan of what to do anyway...) but with the kids having school all day and then band and lessons after school, nothing in that area would be happening. So I texted them this morning that it was a "yoyo" day of service, you're on your own - and we'll report to each other tonight. Some of them texted back and said "What are you talking about" "Um, the FHE lesson this week - Light the World? The video I showed you guys? Any of this ringing a bell?" Some of them were apparently were not mentally present for my lesson, great. Go motherhood! So, fine, whatever... I'll do it myself. Play along if you want, and if not, fine. Sigh.

So I figured I'd just have to find a way to do service at home or in the neighborhood. Here at home, hmmm... I took mental notes of things I was doing: served breakfast, changed diapers, nursed a baby, rocked a toddler, picked up shoes and socks, hung up coats... Wow, I haven't NOT served yet today, all I do is serve! ...Well, I guess I did exercise this morning, so 20 minutes there was for myself! and you know what I discovered yet again? Every day of mother's life is a day of service!! (See the last story at that link there about Stacey White, also reprinted below.) I do a day of service everyday! Not that I wanted to cop out of trying to do something special for the Light the World thing, but really... Motherhood IS service.

But I had told Sophi earlier in the week that we could have her friends over to watch Finding Dori - they had wanted to watch it on a school night but I said no... "Maybe on Thursday" So I texted my neighbor and told her that I'd promised Griff that we could watch Finding Dori today if that was okay with her and wanted to send him over. It was only 9:00 so there was time to invite her other friends over too that have afternoon kindergarten. So we had a little toddler movie afternoon followed by a lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches, crackers, and fruit snacks.

So that was my service (other than all the regular mom stuff!): I gave my friends a few hours break by watching their kids and feeding them lunch. They are wonderful neighbors and often do such things for me by having Natalie and Sophi over, and I so appreciate their service to me. It was a good day, I'm looking forward to the rest of the month as we try to #LightTheWORLD

~~~~~

(So here, pasted below from my "spiritual blog" dated November 17, 2013 ~ where I used to try and jot down spiritual insights (it's been a while though since I was able to sit and articulate anything there...))
~
We enjoyed a wonderful day at church again (as always!) The lesson in Relief Society particularly fed my soul and gave me determination to do better. The lesson was from Chapter 22 of the Lorenzo Snow manual, titled "Doing Good to Others". One of the topics of discussion that went along with my thoughts was that we just have to do it. ("Do it" was President Spencer W. Kimball's motto long before Nike came up with their "Just do it" slogan.) Yes, it's hard managing this family and running full speed all day with all the things there are to do and I feel like I'm falling short most days, but service is never easy or convenient, but it is important and it's worth it. I just need to keep doing it, and I need to do it for the Lord.

Which reminded me of an article I read by Jeffery A. Thompson called "What's your Calling in Life?" (read/print it  here, watch it here) ~ Under "Heresy #5 (24:00 at the video) is the part that I think I loved the most from this talk, which was the insight shared by his mission President's wife. Brother Thompson states:

  When I was a missionary, and as I was nearing my release date, I anticipated a sense of loss when I could no longer give all my time to serving God. At a zone conference, I raised my hand and asked the mission president, “After our missions are over and we are no longer full-time servants of God, how can we keep a sense of purpose?” Before the mission president could answer, his wife lept to her feet and said, “I’ll take this one.” I will never forget her response. “When I do the laundry,” she said, “I am building the kingdom of God. When I scrub the floors, I am serving the Lord. When I tidy the clutter, I’m an instrument in His hands. I do a lot of mundane jobs, but if my eye is single to God and I’m trying to serve my family, then I feel as much purpose in my work as a missionary can.” 
  Those words remind me of what King Benjamin said about laboring in the fields to support himself—a decidedly unkingly occupation. He said, “I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God” (Mosiah 2:16). So perhaps the state of our hearts is as important as the tasks we do in determining whether our work is truly—and eternally—meaningful. 

I was reminded of another quote along these lines that comes from the book "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp, page 194-195:

  When the laundry is for the dozen arms of children or the dozen legs, it's true, I think I'm due some appreciation. So comes a storm of trouble and lightning strikes joy. But when Christ is at the center, when dishes, laundry, work, is my song of thanks to Him, joy rains. Passionately serving Christ alone makes us the loving servant to all. When the eyes of the heart focus on God, and the hands on always washing the feet of Jesus alone—the bones, they sing joy, and the work returns to it's purest state: eucharisteo. The work becomes worship, a liturgy of thankfulness.
  "The work we do is only our love for Jesus in action," writes Mother Teresa. "If we pray the work... if we do it to Jesus, if we do it for Jesus, if we do it with Jesus... that's what makes us content. 
  That is what makes us content—the contented, deep joy is always in the touching of Christ—in whatever skin he comes to us in.

and page 155:

All gratitude is ultimately gratitude for Christ, all remembering a remembrance of Him. For in Him all things were created, are sustained, have their being. 

And one last thought/article along these lines, from the Feb 2013 Ensign - Under "Discipleship in All Places":

  Stacey White, a mother of four in Indiana, USA, was longing for an opportunity to help a neighbor, friend, or even a stranger during the week she studied Matthew 25:35–40, where the Savior teaches that serving “the least of these” is, in fact, serving Him (verse 40). 
  “Because I am a busy stay-at-home mom of four young children, I sometimes feel frustrated that I’m not able to be of service as often as I would like,” Sister White explained. “I am so busy taking care of my own family’s needs that I have little time for anything extra.” 
  Sister White noted that as she continued to study, cross-reference, and ponder these scriptures, praying for opportunities to serve, “the week seemed to take on a higher level of stress than what normally comes with motherhood”—certainly not what she had hoped for. 
  "There were school projects to help with, more than the usual messes to clean up, sibling fights to referee, and a mountain of laundry that seemed to regenerate itself. The to-do list seemed to never come close to being completed. My prayer seemed to go unanswered as I longed for the free time and energy to serve someone other than my husband and children.” 
  But then, partway through the week, Sister White came to a realization: just because she didn’t have the opportunity to serve outside her home did not mean that the Lord had let her prayer go unanswered, and it didn’t mean that she hadn’t been serving in meaningful ways. 
  “The Lord was answering my prayer by giving me those opportunities within my own family,” she says. “At times I feel that the service within my own family somehow doesn’t count, that in order to be classified as service, it must be outside the home, rendered to someone other than a family member. But with my new understanding, while I was making beds, doing laundry, chauffeuring kids, and doing all my daily duties as a mother, I did them more joyfully. My tasks didn’t seem quite so mundane, and I realized I was making a difference for my family.”

I loved how the Lord answered her prayer by keeping her busy serving her own family, and that article was an answer to my prayer as I read it. I think it's something I always need to be reminded of, that all the mundane tasks I do as a mother are important and meaningful, not just to my husband and children but to the Lord. And as I work in remembrance of Him, I won't feel put out by little toddlers turning up their noses at the dinner I slaved over or for no one saying thank your for their clean underwear - I won't be frustrated waiting for words of appreciation, cause I didn't do it for appreciation, I did it for the Lord.  I am serving Christ and it is important to Him, and he tells me thank you and shows me that he loves me in thousands of ways everyday.

“No task will be so sordid and base . . . 

that it will not shine and be reckoned 

very precious in God’s sight” 

- John Calvin