Friends

Tonight I invited an old high school friend over for dinner. Gordon and Adaline are on a Father/daughter campout. So I knew just the girls could talk all evening. It was so much fun. It's amazing after all these years apart how we could just carry on like we used to. I am so greatful I had good friends during my high school years. Holly was one of my dearest friends. One point this evening she let out a burst of laughter. I have missed her laugh. She has the best laugh- it makes me smile just to think of it! I am so glad to have had her as a friend and to have refound her and I look forward to keeping track of her and her cute family in the future. This is the second high school friend I have found this year. It's wonderful to get to know your high school friends as adults, mothers, and wives. They have all become such good people.

Happy Birthday Adaline

I can't believe I have 3 three children over 8 years old. My dad, in his absence, told Adaline she can't grow up. Too bad she's growing like a weed. Every time she can do something new she says "Opa is going to be so mad at me. He told me not to grow up." For her birthday I bought the treats she requested to take to school (peanut butter cups and gummie food). We let the birthday kid choose where we go out to eat to celebrate their birthday. So we probably only eat out as a family 6 times a year (Little Caesars doesn't count). She chose Chuck-A-Rama. It usually works great with our big family. The kids can get whatever they want, whenever they want. It keeps them busy and out of trouble. Well the magic must have worn off because the kids were terrible. Bridie and Jacob were tired and if they are bad every one else follows suit. After dinner Gordon or I take the birthday kid to Wal-Mart and let them pick out whatever toy they want (within reason). It makes the kids really excited and lets the adults(me) be really lazy. It was fun walking through the store with Adaline. She bought a Furr Real Friend. The fake cat drives me crazy. It constantly mew's, purr's, moves it's head, and opens it's mouth. There is a shut off button, but Adaline likes it on. It's interesting how every child adds such an interesting dimension to our family. On Adaline's birthday I'm so greatful for her.

I miss my mom

My parents have been in Nauvoo since April. Most days I am happy for them and love to hear their adventures, but today I talked to my mom and it's looking like they might ask them to stay an extra year and today just miss my mom. I miss going up on Fridays to just hang out while the kids are at school. I miss that she doesn't know what a cute baby Bridie is. I miss Sunday dinners that are in courses with the most beautiful table settings ever. I miss having a really spiritual after dinner talk. I miss just being around her and laughing. I miss going to lunch with her, Tina, and Athena. I miss the "cousin" parties she would have. I miss going over to her house and seeing the projects she has been up to. It makes me sad to hear my kids say how sad they are that their Opa and Grandma are gone. Today I just really miss my mom. Tomorrow I'll be so busy with life I'll hardly even think about it, but today I miss her. I know life is all about sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. I have felt my family has been very blessed by my parents service and they have been a great example to my kids, but I'm looking forward to next October already.

First harvests

Tonight for dinner we had corn, tomatoes and cucumbers from our garden. It was all so delicious! As I walked through our garden and orchard I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the wonderful things this earth gives me. I can't wait until the peaches, apples, and pears are ready. P.S. During my walk through our orchard I saw a purple apple hanging in one of our trees. I had a good laugh. I am tempted to take it and the green tomato with stripes to Isaac's teacher tomorrow. I love unusual things.

Apples can be purple

Today Adaline and Matthew went back to school. They were so excited. They were up, ate breakfast, dressed, and ready to go by 8:00 (school starts at 9:00). If that could only happen everyday! I am in charge of Teacher Appreciation for the PTA. So yesterday me and a couple of other mom 's made muffins and I ran them over to the school at 8:30 so the teachers could have them before school started. I told the PTA that teacher appreciation is the one thing I would do because I feel so strongly about it. (I frankly could care less about red ribbon week.) Isaac had a kindergarten orientation. It was fun. We had a list of instructions and different things the kids had to do around the room. Like get a drink from the drinking fountain, look in all the cupboards of the pally house, etc. We then sat down and the teacher began her instructions for a coloring activity for the kids. The picture was of an apple. She told the kids that apples are red, green or yellow, so they should not color the apple purple. Why? I thought. I can see telling them to color in the lines or the proper way to cut out the apple, but why limit their creativity with color? How boring would this world be if we all conformed to seeing the world the same? I love differences. I love creative thought and ideas. Why do something the same way if you have a better idea, just because everyone else does it one way. Don't tell my kid that apples can't be purple. If Isaac wants to grow up and be a botanist and create and breed purple apples- good for him. I do believe in rules because without them we would have anarchy, but no person should limit any child's imagination. I'm sure Isaac will enjoy this teacher and learn a lot, so I'll just keep my ideas to myself and my blog. I also included a picture of our chicken coop. Based on the color- you can tell I like non-conventional colors. Some people would say chicken coops can't be electric blue. I think it looks great!

The end of innocense

Tomorrow James goes back to school. Two others will follow Wednesday. Isaac will start kindergarten the next Wednesday. And I am devastated. I adore my kids and I have loved having them around this summer. The only good thing I am looking forward to is being able to spend more time with Jacob and Bridie. Tonight Gordon gave the kids and me fathers/spouse blessings ( this is the highlight of my year.) I am so greatful to have a worthy priesthood holder in my home. Now that that has happened I feel better about sending them out into the cruel world. I actually am thrilled with their teachers and everything else. Things have fallen into place and I am at peace. Even if I would prefer to have them home.

Sick baby

Yesterday Bridie woke up from her nap not quite herself. She would cry until she would fall asleep, sleep for 20 mins., wake back up, cry, then fall back asleep. She had a very pasty look to her skin and all the color was gone (except for the olive tones, yes she was green). It wasn't the best night for her to get sick, Gordon had a meeting at the hospital until 7:30 and James had Young Mens. Matthew and Adaline helped a lot since I was stuck rocking Bridie the whole evening. She wouldn't nurse, much to my discomfort. About 6 p.m. she started throwing up, I felt so bad for her. This morning she has eaten much better and is acting more like herself. This is the first time in her life ,other than when she got her shots, that she has been sick so I feel fortunate. Let's just hope that stomach flu doesn't make the rounds.

Funny kids

Today at the pool as Jacob sat on the steps, he said "Mom, I'm swimming". He wants to be like the other kids so bad, but not bad enough to actually get very wet. Next summer is his year to learn to swim. Tonight on our bike ride James asked me if I knew about the cemetery in Mapleton. I knew the city was trying to get a cemetery, but I didn't know about an existing one. As we got closer he said "It's that building over there." I looked and burst out laughing- it was the seminary building. Seminary- cemetery, what's the difference? I don't know if James will ever live that one down. He has a knack for making words up- when he was 2 one of his favorite words was 'fliggert'. It just means whatever you want it to at the time. Last year he wanted to refer to himself as an adolescent and not a child anymore but came up with 'abolushant'. Gordon still calls him this every once in a while. I just finished reading "The beggar king and the secret of happiness". It's good and a quick read. I would recommend it.

Peppers

Growing up I never thought I liked green peppers because every time our family would go to Brick Oven my dad would order our pizza with everything but green peppers. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I realized I like green peppers. ( Kind of makes you realize the influence you have on your own kids.) I have, for the past couple of years, planted heirloom vegetables. Most things have not been extremely successful, but we're making progress. I am growing six heirloom tomatoes and six heirloom pepper plants. Tonight we had stuffed peppers for dinner because we have them coming out our ears. As I opened up one of the peppers and saw all the seeds I thought "How many peppers are in this pepper?" It is mind boggling. I am in awe of the beauty of each plant and life cycle. In that small pepper are 50 -100 seeds. Next year if I planted all those seeds I would have thousands of peppers each with 50 -100 seeds inside. It makes me think about the promise given to Abraham. Posterity as numerous as the sand of the sea. Never underestimate the power of one seed. I am greatful I have been given 6 "seeds" - James, Matthew, Adaline, Isaac, Jacob, and Bridie.

Wisdom of a 12 year old

Today on the way to violin lessons, James and I were discussing bullies at school. He said "Everyone needs two things: friends and attention. Some people are the class clown to get attention, some girls dress really nice to get attention, and some people bully others to get the attention they need." For some reason this hit home and takes our social interactions down to such a basic level. I love it. We all need friends and attention. With six kids I feel like sometimes I need a little less attention, but they need MY attention. James is wise like his dad. He has a way of explaining things that make concepts so understandable. So the next time one of my kids is acting up I'll remember what James said " Everyone needs two things..."