The Ordinary Good Life

I realize that we are not going to have very much time as a family with everyone living here at home.  All these years of growing and adding to our family, and then suddenly, we'll start shrinking.  Fewer people at the dinner table each night.  Clark will most likely leave for a mission about one short year after the baby is born.  Lately, I've been okay about blogging about big family events and activities, but I don't feel like I'm capturing the day to day rhythm of life that I enjoy so much.  And as I see that end of an era approaching, I am excited, but also sad.  I am worried about not fully experiencing this time, just because we'll all be so busy.  I want to savor the time and remember it.  I am going to try to blog more often, about the ordinary moments, because they are what make us who we are. 

 There are lots of things I love about the picture.  Starting with George's jet pack he made for himself.  Once again, he love to collect what everyone else sees as trash.  He quickly gathered up all the silly string cans and said, "I can make something with these!"

He taped them together all by himself and requested help to strap them onto his back.  He has worn it all day yesterday and today.  

This tender-hearted, obedient, thoughtful, creative five year old has entirely won me over.  

I also like that this picture shows his highly unmanageable cow lick on the back of his head.  I'm still not sure how to deal with it.  Cut his hair short, or keep it long?  I do try.

I like Faith's photobomb.  Heck, I like that her hair is braided in this picture.  Proof that I try to neatly groom my children.  I even comb Peter's hair sometimes, but he promptly rubs his hands all over his head to mess it up.  Then he laughs.

Now here is a child who takes the styling of his hair very seriously.  He came downstairs after brushing his hair and it struck me that he had pretty well captured an awesome 80's hairdo. 

This was one of a series of picture I took of Cannon.  He's quite the poser and it's a little challenging to get a "normal" looking picture.

Peter with one of Elinor's chicks.  I am happy to say that with all of Peter's speech difficulties, he is increasing his number of animal sounds.  We feel this is very good progress.

Peter is quite the distraction during school work.  He especially likes to be by Bethany.

He likes to bring her books to read to him. Understandably, she has a hard time telling him no.

Clark planned a murder-mystery dinner group date this evening.  I tried to stay out of the way, but that little bits that I heard sounded like great fun.  It was especially fun to have his cousin Kyli (in the white skirt) join in the festivities.  Lots of laughing and great costumes.

Clark has lots of Abe's good qualities, including his ability to organize people and plan events. 
This evening Bethany is off to a stake dance and the little kids are trying hard to be quiet while they listen in on Clark's party.  Clark had some concerns about the presence of the little kids while he hosted the dinner party.  But I reminded him that they do live here and since I was making the dinner, they would not be banished all evening.  I'm still trying to convince him that his little sibling can be an asset rather than a liability with the ladies.
I guess the jury is still out on that one.

Secret Garden Book Club Second Generation

When Clark, Bethany, and Elinor were younger we had years of wonderful kids' book clubs.  We still enjoying reminiscing the fun activities we did and remembering books we really liked.  I loved reading so many good books aloud with them, but of course the younger kids were too young to remember them.  So in the Second Generation book club with the younger kids we are repeating many of the same books.  This month it was The Secret Garden, which is one of my all-time favorites to read aloud.  I think I enjoy attempting the Yorkshire accent.

Also, it is one of the easiest book clubs to plan and carry out because I basically give the kids a bunch of jump ropes and tell them to go outside and play.  I plan it for a month when we're likely to have good weather, and this week's club did not disappoint.  They did jump rope for a while, but then they started playing "horse".  Once again, my very playful Bethany was right there in the mix, organizing kids and having a marvelous time.  She is so fun.

I absolutely adore this picture of Ava.  I think this picture proves that kids should play outdoors with very little parental direction more often.

I remember a couple of years back, wondering and perhaps worrying a bit, that my younger kids might not have the homeschooling network of friends that my older kids had.  We felt we had hit jackpot with good homeschooling friends for the older kids and we didn't think lightning would strike twice.  I am so grateful that that has not been the case.  We're the older parents now, but we have become friends with families that are homeschooling their oldest children who are the ages of Faith, Cannon, and George.  

They started out as a team of horses, but soon morphed into a Siberian husky team.   A very obedient Siberian Husky team.

Sad news--- part of this big, beautiful cottonwood tree in the front yard has died.  Someday it might need to be dealt with by a professional, but for now our hope and plan is that the tree will miraculously heal itself.  It could happen, yes?

On a side note, Faith recently "got" her front aerial in her gymnastics class.  That's basically a front walk over with no hands.  Go, Faith!

I just LOVE the smiles!  Why must we do school at all?  Can't they just play all day every day?

Elinor's 13th Birthday

Elinor recently celebrated her 13th birthday and it was quite the event for her.

It was a night of games and friends from the neighborhood, speech and debate, family, and swim team.  They were really great kids and everyone seemed to have a good time.  

 I will say they were very loud!  I don't know what I expected from twenty 12-15 year olds.

Elinor was so happy! 

This was a pretty big part of what made her birthday so wonderful.  

Elinor is a girl who embraces life.  And for the past year or so she has wanted chickens.  It is her dream.  Recently a neighbor paid her to take care of their chickens for a week while they were on vacation.  I wanted to tell them, "DON'T PAY HER!  She'll pay YOU to take care of your chickens!"

Being the dream-crusher that I am, I haven't taken her wishes very seriously.  

No, it's worse than that.  I've flat our refused to even consider letting her get chickens.

Fortunately, she has kinder friends than her mother.

The Schramm family set her up with chicks and a starter home for the chicks.  The name on the box, "Elinor's Fowl Services" was Elinor's idea of what she would name her bird tending business.

She was thrilled beyond belief.  She could hardly believe it was true!  In the Schramm family's defense, I did give my okay.  I couldn't bring myself to give her chickens myself, but I could hardly deny someone giving her a gift!

It has been pretty cute listening to their adorable little chirping sounds.

As she loves to take pictures, she was so happy to get a camera of her own to shoot away at every beautiful sunset and snow covered peak she sees. 

Poor Peter

Because there has been so much of this...

We decided to do this.

It was very sad, but the nurse was quick and it was less traumatic than I anticipated.
They were testing for allergies and Celiac disease--all off which came back negative.  I think that is good news, but there were some abnormalities in his lymphocyte counts.  It is my understanding that this is part of his white blood cells.  The Dr. ordered another round of blood work, which results we are still awaiting.  I'm not terribly concerned, because he was coming off a sickness when the first test was done.  Hopefully, these will come back normal.

In the meantime, Peter got a dashing new haircut and has had a pretty significant improvement in his demeanor over the last week thanks to the expertise and advice of a friend.  I probably should have asked her months ago for help.  Monday morning she took me to the health food store and taught me how to help "heal his gut" so to speak.  Between a probiotic and slippery elm, he seems to be feeling SO much better.

He is very, very tall for his age-- so far off the chart.  We've had several tall children, but nothing like this.  Unfortunately, although he looks so old, he isn't talking at all.  He babbles and tries desperately to communicate, but he's really not talking anything understandable.  So I have an early intervention speech therapy appointment set for a couple of weeks from now.  Once again, our Sweet Pete keeps us on our toes and dispels any idea that we might ever be experts on raising children. 

This picture was taken on the train at the zoo a couple weeks ago.  I am really enjoying Peter's love of animals.  Of course almost all little children enjoy animals, but some seem consumed.  I remember that Clark made animal sounds well before he said any words.  Peter doesn't talk at all, but he does make a snake sound and roars for a dinosaur.   It is really fun for me to have another child be so passionate about animals.

The Secret Garden Inspires Again

I really love pictures of children flying kites and swinging.  It just seems like childhood at its finest.  A couple of days ago we had our FIRST break in horrid winter weather we've had for weeks and weeks.  We have had a very cold, very snowy, very gray, very bleak winter.  Has it really been that bad?  Or have I just been enduring the first trimester of pregnancy for all of winter?  I don't see that it matters what the reason.  I just haven't been enjoying this winter.  So when we had blue skies and a wee bit 'o sunshine this week, we just HAD to get outside.

Also, we've been reading aloud The Secret Garden for our kids' book club and even though I am not a gardener by any definition, I LOVE THIS BOOK.  I love to read it just before Spring and be inspired to plant a garden that I know I have no intention of actually planting.  I love the idea of children playing out in the healthy fresh air and everything coming alive after winter.  I just find it very healing to my soul.
I do believe there is a very good chance there will be a garden of sorts this summer, as both Clark and Faith seem quite determined.

Look!  This park has been completely covered in snow since before Christmas!  It will be green again some day.

Cannon informed me that after many months, his front tooth is beginning to grow in.  Just thought you'd like to know.

In other UTTER ADORABLENESS--- Clark was asked to his first high school dance-- it's a girls' choice "Sweethearts" dance.  The gal is Jenny, and could she be any cuter?  I think not.  I'm told they had a great time.  Tradition here in Utah is that they do a "day date" and then the dance in the evening.  As several of the group couldn't do a date on Saturday during the day, they did their "day date" Friday afternoon/evening.  Out to dinner and to the Ice Castles in Midway.  Then Saturday night it was just the dance.
I thought perhaps the day date was overkill.  Why not just do dinner and the dance.  Until I remembered that when I was in high school the thing to do was to stay up all night as somebody's house after the dance.  Umm... as a parent, I'll take the day date, thank you very much.

One more of children playing outside.  Supposedly, the ground hog  DID NOT see his shadow this year, which means spring will be here sooner rather than later.
I hope that is true.
Except for spring allergies.  I don't really want those to come. 

Family Field Trip

Wednesday was a family field trip to the Living Planet Aquarium that is quite near our house.  Everyone was a fan and since we now have a membership, I anticipate us returning often over the next year.

Elinor was our wildlife photographer.

The kids enjoyed touching the sting rays.

My brother Chip and two of his kiddos joined us.  They have a 4D theater that was entertaining.

I will say, it was pleasantly child friendly.  

All of the exhibits were very accessible, even for the little patrons.  Peter was so happy to toddle around looking at everything.  Sometimes it was hard to convince him to move on.  We only lost him twice before we had to contain him in his stroller.  

With such a large family and different activities and schedules, it is a real treat for us to all go do something together.  Especially an animal/nature place that appeals to everyone.

Within the aquarium there is a giant indoor play area that is heavenly for children in the winter time.  Oh, to get to run and play in open space!  Obviously my little ones loved it, but truth be told, Bethany and Elinor quite enjoyed playing with the little kids as well.  That is something I really enjoy about them even as they get older.  They are very playful.

They made up some sort of leopard capturing game and Bethany came to tell me she had ripped her jeans while playing.  She said, "It's been a while since I got a hole in my jeans while playing".

Somehow this made me very happy.  

And then, the day had been such a success, that we decided to press our luck and go out to eat at a Thai restaurant on the recommendation of Chip.  It was Thai Siam (where the old Ruby Tuesday's used to be) and it was super tasty, super FAST, and quite inexpensive (since we did the orange chicken special all the way around).  Are they always that fast?  Or did they just want to get us out of there quickly?  It doesn't really matter, because we enjoyed ourselves IMMENSELY! 

For the rest of the day all the kids kept saying what a great day it was.  I agree-- it was a really fantastic family day.  Which is pretty much as good as it gets.

Mixed Emotions

Sunday evening was  very emotional night for me. 
Granted, I am pregnant, and I cry very easily.  But still, I was rather a mess.
Since he was about five years old, London Flynn has been one of Clark's closest friends.  He is the guy just to the right of Clark.  Sunday evening was his Eagle court of honor and it was a wonderful evening.  It was tender, but I could manage it, until the slide show. 

In so many of the slide show pictures of London, there were pictures of Clark and lots of these guys.  Their lives have been so intertwined in so many good ways.  I felt so grateful for his and our associations with such good friends for so many years.  Growing up in the military myself, it is a different thing to live with and share experiences for many years.  My experience was getting to know a lot of great people, but then moving on and meeting new great people.  To have this kind of longevity is a different, wonderful thing. 
I felt grateful for the opportunities they have had together-- book clubs, Shakespeare classes, trips, Lego robotics, big robots, dates, D&D.
I felt sad that they are all almost grown up.  Mission papers are in for a few of them.  College has begun.  This is their last season of robots together.  IT HAS GONE SO FAST.  Everyone said it would, but who believes that?  The days are so long but the years are so short.
I felt hopeful for their futures.  They've had top notch home school educations and experiences.  They have brilliant minds and they will do great things to help their fellow men.
I felt such joy remembering all the great times.  What happiness they have brought to their families.  The memories made me so happy.