The Greatest "Snowman"

Be still my heart! 
Saturday is P-Day for Clark in the MTC!
I've been sending Clark packages each week he's been gone.  Besides very heartfelt prayers, it's about all I can do for him.  But I did ask something in return this week-- a picture of just him wearing his missionary tag.  He is a good boy and sent me one today.  Happy dance!
I love to read his letters and hear him share his testimony, but also share some of the funnies of a bunch of 18 and 19 year old boys living and learning together.  He's quite entertaining to me.

This picture?  I'd love to know more about it because 1) Clark doesn't wear glasses 2)Why is he wearing Abe's mission coat inside? 3)Who are his fellow dashing young missionaries?
We sent him off with Abe's old mission trench coat.  It was in good shape, it fit, and it was free.  But then I was feeling a little bad and thought his coat was outdated and maybe I should go buy him a new coat while coats are on sale.  I asked him and he said "NO!"  He said he liked the coat and it was an object of some notice in the MTC-- other missionaries hoping to trade for it. 
Who knew? 

Abe and I went to a movie this morning.  THIS MORNING!! You want to feel like you are shirking adult responsibilities?  Go to a movie before 11:00 am.  It was glorious.  We went to see The Greatest Showman and HOLY HANNAH!  It was.... I am really struggling to find words to describe just how much I loved it.  I've been listening to the music all day.  

In other very, very exciting news... as of Friday, Abe has officially left Winder Farms!  In November he started working for Business Promotions, consulting with dentist and orthodontists offices around the country (no traveling involved).  The company designs websites and does search engine optimization and such and it's great and he loves it and the work hours ROCK!!!  

We're so glad to have him around on Saturdays again!  And much to the joy of the children, we had our first snow of the season-- better late than never.  The snow looks pretty patchy in this picture, but it was much better on the actual hill.

Girl party!

It is so great to find a family with whom the ages of children match up AND you thoroughly enjoy one another's company.  The Chases have three kiddos that match up with our youngest three.  SCORE!  And fun on the sledding hill!

Dog pile, penguin style.

Preparing for the Mom Race-- head first on stomachs.  Pretty brave and crazy for us.

And we're off!

It's been a while since I've done good sledding-- with pregnancy and nursing babies and such.  Today was really fun.

Peter was a great sledding buddy.  Then we made a lot of snowballs and had a grand snowball fight.  I think some of my piano students we were sledding with had too much fun throwing snowballs at their piano teacher!  Rude!  But I suppose I had it coming.  Oh, and I totally retaliated.  Yep, I'm that kind of adult.

I hope we get some more snow this year for more sledding.  I don't think we quite got our fill for the year.

A  funny moment was when the girls buried Connor's head in snow and then we sang, "I can't feel my face when I'm with you."  So that's what that song is about!  Ha, ha, ha-- so funny.  My kids tell me I made jokes and then I crack up at my own jokes.  Guilty.

In the same way that Clark doesn't like ice skating,  Elinor is not a fan of sledding.  Most people like it, but she just doesn't want to do it.  Is it the cold?  It is the danger of hurtling down an icy hill?  Is it the trudging back up the hill to do it all again?  Whatever her reasons, she does not, and has not, liked sledding for quite some time.  So fortunately for me, she stayed home with little Greta while the rest of us played.

But she is lovely and if she doesn't want to sled, she doesn't have to sled. 

On a side note, the sledding hill was practically deserted.  How could this be?  It was the first snow of the season on a Saturday.  Well, I'll tell you.  There was a man-hunt for a criminal fugitive in the area.  I think there was a some sort of shelter-in-place lock down in nearby neighborhoods.  Ooh-- freaky!  All's well that ends well.  

Handy little snow shovelers this morning.

All Sorts of Fun

Hands down my favorite picture of the week.  Sunday night we had a game night with the Schramm Fam.  Which was beyond great fun because they are the only family I know who might actually behave worse than we do during games.  I found them charming!  During The Great Dalmuti, Jakob ruled and reigned with an iron fist-- retaining his top spot for every round.  I was his number two for almost all the rounds, and we were... shall we say... not gracious winners!  It's so fun to be bad in games.
I'm totally sending this picture to Clark this week-- he'll be so proud of Jakob and I being evil together!!

Cannon has had lots of Heroscape with Hayden this week.  He may survive Clark's absence after all. 

There was much loud laughter.  Was there too much loud laughter for the Sabbath.  Yes, probably.

The plastic Tinker Toys.  As beloved as the older wooden ones were-- these are even better.  Notice Kate's crown-- she is princess and she was sparkling in her sparkly pink shirt.  Both sides are strongly encouraging a match between George and Kate someday.  She told her family she was going to "...Sparkle George with my shirt!" 
SUCCESS!!!

Good times with great friends.  Good times cleaning my embarrassingly messy counter after they left.  Do I honestly not notice how messy it is sometimes?  No, I do not.  Sometimes I am having way too much fun to worry about mess. It bothers me after the fact-- like when I see this picture and then post it for the world to see.  But not at the time.  A blessing and a curse I suppose.

Love, love, love these girls. 

On Saturday George and Peter were so, so happy to have their neighborhood friends over to play.

The bigger boys even got to play with the bow and arrow.

They played together almost all day and George was never happier!

Our ward had a waffle breakfast on Saturday.  Faith is almost 12 and I'm about to have 3 girls in Young Womens!  What??  I remember years ago figuring out that there would be a small window when all three girls were in Young Womens together.  I can hardly believe we are almost there. 

Cannon has some primary teachers he absolutely LOVES!  He was so excited to learn about the Plan of Salvation a couple weeks ago and see it drawn out.  I really thought we'd covered that at home, but maybe that was a couple kids back!  I am grateful they made such an impression on him and he is so excited to share the plan! 

Oh my!  She was so excited to see the picture of Clark he sent in the last email.  He seems to be doing very well and we are happy for him and I am still missing him like crazy.  I just avoid going down to the basement.  It's too empty (and too clean!)

Mr. Creativity strikes again!  George made yet another robot out of this and that he found around the house.  

Here he is with his latest Kiwi Crate creation.  Besides the mess, he really is the easiest boy to keep entertained.  Just give him access to whatever arts and crafts or trash receptacle you've got on hand.  He'll keep himself busy.

Okay, wait-- maybe this one is my favorite picture this week.  COULD SHE BE ANY CUTER???
Sunday was her first day going to nursery and she went and she loved it.  She still has an ear infection and fluid in both ears-- sadness.  At 18 months she isn't talking at all and so I have scheduled her appointments with the ENT and early intervention speech therapy.  After the travails of Peter and his hearing and speech problems, we are going to be much more proactive in getting her ears taken care of.
Poor Peter is suffering this evening from an ear ache.  I suspect another one of his tubes may have come out and it's hurting him. 

And lastly, going from children who can't hear and/or talk to the one who NEVER STOPS TALKING!  Don't get me wrong, I love it and wouldn't have him any other way.  He is the built in family entertainment system.

This video was made when Cannon was assigned to do the dishes a few nights again and rather than resisting, he made it into a reality TV/talk show.  

January 12, 2018

Peter has a few articles of clothing that are so offensive to him, they cause him to turn into the hulk.  Full on rage if I even suggest to dress him in his gray corduroy pants.  The long-sleeved yellow shirt induces much wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Lately if he resists clothing I just chuck the article into the DI or trash pile. Just. Not. Worth. It.
These overalls are iffy for him.  Someday he accepts them.  Some days not.  But on this particular day, he was the cutest little train conductor wearing his "train pants."

 George's "workshop" out in the garage.

Captain Red.

Faith building her latest Tinkercrate- a walking robot. 
Side note about Faith-- her teeth are falling out left and right.  She is losing teeth at an alarming rate and frankly, it is really too much for the tooth fairy to keep up with.

George and one of his Kiwi Crate creations-- all about light.  These Tinker Crates and Kiwi Crates are monthly box subscriptions and I cannot recommend them highly enough.  It's really George and Faith that love them the most, but they go a long way in relieving any pressure I might feel to do cool science experiments.

We had our kids book club this week and we read A Long Way From Chicago, which I had read with the older kids when they were younger and it is a favorite.  One of our activities was building privies (outhouses) out of blocks and then taking turns trying to knock down the privies.  What can I say?  It was a hit!  Pun intended.

Some people got fancy with double-decker privies.

Some were very sturdy.

We had a great time and after all these years, book club is still about our favorite thing each month.

So, another thing that made my eyes leak this week was this quote I came across.  It reminded me of Clark and the struggles we I had when he was younger.  Now, it reminds me to be patient with my little Peter.    

And this is my favorite picture of the week-- The D&D gang (at least part of them) geeking out in the basement even though Clark isn't with them.  They make me happy!  Even as I type, I hear their joyful, excitable voices and laughter coming from the basement.  That's one of things I thought I would miss the most when Clark left, so it's especially heart warming.

And a shout out to my favorite swimmer girl!  She continues to work hard and drop her freestyle race times.  The swim seasons is starting to wind down-- they are tapering to get ready for regions in a couple of weeks.  This girl is a gem!  A GEM, I tell you.

Betsy... Unplugged

It's time for a blog tell all.  Well, not all, but more than usual.

1.  I am not handling Clark's departure anywhere near as well as I thought I would.  Almost two weeks out and I am seriously missing him.  His absence leaves a pretty big hole in the family.  You probably shouldn't ask me about him because I will start crying.  I cried when I dropped a package off for him at the UPS for same day MTC delivery.  I cried when I listened to his music playlist.  I cried when a friend sent me a picture of him from a scout camp-out five years ago.  I cried when I went downstairs to get something from the storage room.  I've developed a twitch in my left eye-- I suspect from all the crying. 
I'm going to give myself the benefit of the doubt and say that some of my emotions are hormonal.  I don't want him to know how frequently I'm losing it.   Of course I know he's doing a great thing!  Of course I know I wouldn't want him anywhere else!  Of course there will be blessings and good things that come of his service.  
But right now, I miss him.  I always thought everything about a missionary going out was happy and exciting.  I'd even see other moms losing it and I'd think, "Why?  This is a wonderful thing. "
That wasn't very considerate or understanding of me, because now I'm the one boo-hoo-hooing. 
He's just fine-- better than fine, and I'd appreciate it very much if nobody reading this mentions my hysteria to the boy. 

2.  Hopefully she is on the mend, but poor little Greta has been sick with double ear infections and fevers and about three months (or more) of a runny nose.  Partly because of her lack of speech, I suspect we may be headed down the path of tubes in her ears (same as Peter had) because she's had fluid in her ears for quite some time.  We shall see, but I don't want things to drag on as long as they did with Peter.  I may have to be a little firm with the Dr. if she suggests a wait and see approach. 

3.  We've done a slight room rearrange this past week.  No, it doesn't involve Clark's empty basement room.  Our hope is to finish the basement in this next year, so it's remaining empty for a little while.  Greta came out of the closet. 
That is to say, she moved out of the pack-n-play in our closet she has been sleeping in for the past year and into the crib in Elinor's room.  Peter moved out of the crib and into the boys room.  He and George share a bed-- not just a room, but the actual bed.  Whatever, little kids can sleep anywhere.  He's been doing a marvelous job of settling down and staying in his bed.  So, that is something.

4.  Abe and I joined a couple of my siblings and my parents at a showing of Darkest Hour (a movie about Winston Churchill) this evening.  The movie was fantabulous!  I highly recommend.  What I don't recommend is getting into a rather heated disagreement with one's husband over the legality of parking outside of the marked parking spaces at 10 pm in a deserted Walmart Neighborhood Market parking lot.  I'm certain that at some point, maybe even tomorrow, the argument will be humorous.  I admit, I am emotionally volatile right now. 

5.  I don't mind January so much.  February is another thing, but January is kind of nice.  Routine, a slower schedule, normality.  Well, there would be more normality if I could stop crying for a couple of days, but still, more normality than December.  And even though I like this pace of life better, I do find it challenging to come down off the the frenzied excitement of December.  It's like I want to slow down, but I feel anxious slowing down-- like I'm forgetting to do important things.  Shoot, it seems like I'm somewhat darned if I do stay busy and darned if I slow down.  I'm going to have to ponder this dilemma.  It seems unhealthy. 

6.  George has been taking dance for a couple of years at a local dance studio that we really like--Wasatch Arts Center .  They have a wonderful, nurturing atmosphere, beautiful choreography, great teachers, and very appropriate costumes (not such an issue for boys, but appreciated nonetheless).  Now that Nutcracker is over, Cannon is back doing tap there, although he is at Ballet West for ballet and contemporary.  Bethany got tap shoes for Christmas so she could do a tap class there as well.  And then, I asked Faith is she might like to try tap and be in the same class as the boys.  She jumped at the idea.  So Team Middle Kids are all in a tap class together and Bethany's class is immediately after theirs.  And the very best part?  The studio owner gave us killer deal for all these classes.  I won't say how much, but I feel like we're committing highway robbery!  Sometimes things just work out.

7.  When I was a mom with only little kids, every day lasted forever!  I remember looking for things to do to fill my time.  So much to do, but such monotony as well.  Older, more experienced moms would say, "Enjoy it!  It goes so fast!".
Really?  Really?  This doesn't feel like it's going fast!
18 years into this parenting thing and I am SHOCKED at the speed at which time as flown. 
Yep, I'm crying again.
And it is just getting faster.  Another year from now and Bethany will be getting ready to head to college.  Elinor is a freshman in high school-- passionate about swim team. 
I think I'm some sort of mourning for the end of this phase of life-- but that doesn't make much sense because Greta is 18 months and I still have roughly 17 years of her being a minor in our house.  It's just that now I see how little time that actually is and I'm sort of pitching a big ol' Mom fit about it.  Perhaps I will have had my fill of parenting by the time everyone has moved on and I've had 35 years experience.  Perhaps I'm emotionally panicking unnecessarily.  So unlike me to emotionally panic unnecessarily. 
Actually, it is very much like me.

8.  Sounds like tomorrow needs to be a day where we all stay in pajamas and read.  That sounds lovely.  Not possible, but lovely.

9.  I thoroughly enjoy reclaiming my bedroom closet this week.  It's not a huge closet to begin with, but it was markedly smaller and less accessible with Greta's bed in it.  It is easier to keep a tidy room when you have access to your closet.  And kids like to come visit with you in a clean room more so than in a messy room.  And lately, I really like the kids coming to visit and chat with me.  So that's a win/win. 

10.  Okay, well, this was cathartic for me to blah, blah, blog.  Clark, I don't know if you're allowed to check this blog on the mission or not.  If you do come across this post, you know I am will be totally fine.  I'm like Bethany-- I cry to relieve stress.  It doesn't mean there is actually a problem.   

We Carry On

He's three and today was his first day going to Sunbeams at church (the class for the three-year olds).  It went as well as could have been expected!  He laid on the floor most of the time, but he didn't yell and scream or have a hulk moment.  So we're pretty happy about it!.  

This little Beanie is in bad shape.  She has a double ear infections and has had several days of high fevers.  At first I though her extra snuggles were because she missed Clark-- turns out it was a little more serious. 

This was a fun moment!--They look SO MUCH ALIKE anyway, but then they were dressed in their University of Utah gear for the gymnastics meet that evening and practicing violins together. 

 Bethany, Faith, and two of their besties took the train up to the U for the first Red Rocks meet of the season. 

We rang in the new year playing games with the Johansens! 

The girls danced the night away with Just Dance.

Cannon was happy when Hayden came over for piano lessons and had time to play a little Heroscape game.  Of course, in the past, Cannon had Clark here to play with. 
We have heard from him-- he is doing very well and loving his mission time-- but were are missing him.  And that is as it should be. 

I was happy this week when Clark's friend Jacob came over for a visit and played some chess and checkers with Cannon and played some wrestling tag with the little boys.  Did my heart good. 

I got this picture this evening from Phil (pictured with Clark)-- who does Audio/Visual at the MTC.  It did my heart A LOT of good. 

Joy.

More creations by George.  He leaves a trail of duct tape, scissors, and cardboard snippets wherever he goes.  Well worth the mess!