baptism

Ever since my oldest was born I sort of dreaded the day that he would turn 8. Accountability sounded a lot worse than automatic ticket to heaven. Sounds appalling, I know. But as time would have it, luckily, we have a healthy and happy 8 year old boy and he turned 8 last month. On the 24th he was baptized and it was really a wonderful day.

Josh and I were talking on our way to the stake centre, and remarking how really it wasn' t that scary or crazy and just felt right and good that our Levi is making this choice and step in his life. Instead of feeling like, uh oh, our kid might not make it anymore, we were so happy that this opportunity is available to him and that he took it. Like all baptisms, the spirit was there witnessing to us that this is the right thing and what our Heavenly Father wants. What I wasn't expecting was the emotional side of things to pick up the pace, watching your own son and your own husband walk down together into the waters of baptism is a very surreal experience. And of course that's not enough, now you get to see him sit in a chair and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was wonderful to see him sitting there, in his new suit and tie. All handsome and clean and pure. He sat there reverently and my mind flashed forward to 10 years from now when my little man will be a missionary. Is that even possible? 8 years has flown by fast enough, I can imagine the next 10 will go by in a heart beat.

To say the least, it was a very special day. We had lots of family come and visit and show their love for us and Levi.

just sayin'

"Mom, riding down the hill is so fun. It's even more fun than reading!"

"That's not magic, Levi, that's science!"

"Yes, Granni, I love this Dilly Bar. I like eating garbage."

"Mom, did you ever climb on the car when you were little?"
"No, I did not."
"Is it because cars weren't invented yet?"

"We all need food, we are all growing."
"We are all growing up but you are growing out."

july

This has been such a fun and busy month for us!

It all started with me leaving the kids for 4 days and going to YWs camp. What a blast!!! I felt like I was seventeen again. Probably acted like it, too. My highlight was getting dunked by a fellow leader into the lake. Love immaturity like that. I know the kids enjoyed their time with Dad lots, too. Not sure how much Josh enjoyed it, but he survived quite well and never complained.

Then we went to Montana to spend 10 days camping. We camp right on Flathead Lake. The weather was great and the water warm. My highlight would be training for my tri with a swim that didn't require turning around twenty times. Thad was quite grumpy the whole time; he hardly slept, and acted pretty impossible on the most part. By day 7 or 8 he finally started to feel at home and enjoyed playing in the dirt and swimming and splashing in the lake. Levi loved getting to play with all his cousins, and Enoch loved the hills he could ride his bike up and down. Monet (she's asleep, but I am assuming) loved playing with Jaymeson and having big cousins dote on her. I had a really fun tube ride with Josh that ended with a few crashes but no sore vertebrae, so that would definitely be another highlight.

Next in line we just finished a week of basketball camp. My parents came down from Calgary with a car loaded with 6 kids. We carted them all (including Levi) to Magrath everyday for camp, and then came home and went swimming in the pool here in town. It was crazy but lots of fun at the same time. All these city kids thought the way things are done around here were a little odd. They were amazed that if you wanted a snack, you could go outside and pick some fruit or grab some veggies from the garden and indulge.

Oh, and somewhere in all this we had our first ever Settler Days that we were able to attend, inlcuding a 5k race in my pyjamas and Josh's band playing during dinner at night. We also had a niece get baptized and a youth temple trip. I will add some pictures to this post soon. I just wanted to write something before nothing ever happens.

ode to ten

Awhile back Josh and I celebrated 10 years. I tried to post about it, but everything was too corny and cliche. All ya'll can thank me later for sparing you the drive on the cheesewagon.

One of my favorite things about being married for 10 years is that I am still learning awesome things about Josh. Last year around this time, Josh sung a solo in his school's musical. This year, he has impressed me with the following:

I have wanted matching night tables forever! Well, maybe just 10 years or so. And now we have them!! This photo is before the stain and varnish, and believe me, they look even better now.

right now

Last week of school looms before us. Call me crazy, but I said yes to Levi when he asked to have a year-end school party. There are 26 kids in his class. Sounds a little daunting but I have awesome YW that are coming to help, and what good is a big backyard if we never use it, right??

Thad refuses to go down the stairs. He is great at climbing up, but when he wants down, he just sits at the top of the stairs and screams and waits for me to come and get him. Yesterday at church he crawled up the stairs to the stage and clambered back down like he'd been doing it his whole life. This past week he has started taking steps, the most being 5 in a row to Daddy the other day.

Father's Day was yesterday. It was pretty low key- Josh had to speak in another ward and was gone most of the morning, but the kids all tried their best to be super good just for Dad. So in a sense we both got a break.

A week ago I was busy in the garden weeding and it was bedtime for Monet. Levi offered to put her to bed for me. He did an amazing job, reading her a story and making sure she said her prayers. Enoch did it last night, even remembering to make sure she brushed her teeth. He read her 3 stories. I love that they are enjoying taking care of their younger sister.

I am training for a half marathon. Never thought I would, but here I am. Ran 12k on Saturday and not feeling too bad. It is much more fun running with other women outside instead of on my treadmill by myself. The other highlight for me would be women's soccer. We play every Thursday night. We are terrible but it is so fun!

Despite all the storms and weather warnings last night, doomsday has come and and my baby is one. In one year he has gone from this:

to this:


Thad, your sweetness is beyond reason. You bring a smile to anyone who sees you. Your big brothers and sister absolutely adore you. You are such an important and wonderful addition to our family. Happy birthday Thadman.

doomsday

In high school I was in learn-as-you-go physics. My physics teacher had different tests so that we couldn't cheat and copy off each other etc. He always labeled his tests Doomsday A and Doomsday B etc. Tomorrow is Doomsday D for me.

My lovely, perfect, solid, crawling, hairy, soft, sweet-smelling, busy, standing, hungry, beautiful, toothy-grinned, everything-in-the-mouth baby will be one. That's 12 months since he was born. Everyday I tell my kids they should stop growing. And no one listens. I don't love the pregnancy stage, but I really really really really really love the baby stage. And it is disappearing all too quickly.

!!!!!!!!!!!!

I so did not know that I could do this. Download my scrapbook pages onto my blog. SWEET!!!!

catch up

No this is not a post about how I need to write about all the things we have been doing. This is how I feel every morning. Just tryin' to catch up. I'm usually up before the big kids but never before Thad. I take care of him and play with him and slowly the other 3 wake up until I am outnumbered 4 to 1. I get Levi ready for school and send him on his way and then look around me, and even if I did do the dishes last night, the kitchen is a disaster. Did I really just sweep the floor last night? Food and pencil crayons are all over the floor. The family room is a mess. There are toys everywhere. Thad's hands are super sticky, not to mention his hair. Monet's hair is even worse and looks like it has never seen a comb before. I have diapers to change. Kids to dress. Shoes to find. Beds to make (OK- only one). Highchair to wipe down. Calendar and email to check. Bank statements. Phone calls. Trampoline. Games to play. Songs to sing. I am just so popular around here EVERYONE wants me to give them my complete and undivided attention. I feel inundated with peoples needs and almost dizzy sometimes. I feel like I can't spin around fast enough to breath. Motherhood is overwhelming. To say it is busy is an understatement. I think it is slowly melting my brain into nothing.

But then there are cuddles on the couch as we read (and re-read) a favorite story. There are soccer games in the backyard. Reading and riding and loving to be taught. Tight hugs and sticky kisses. Moments where the kids actually seem to not only like but love each other. Accomplishments like using the bathroom by oneself and getting dressed. Silly songs and dances. Discovering bugs and new foods. My kids might be disintegrating my brain, but every day they find a way to melt my heart and make it all worth it.

This is not easy. It is not flashy or dazzling. But it is necessary, and as much as I think (and hope) I am building these little people into spectacular and amazing, caring, empathetic, and hard-working beings, I really think it is the other way around. How will I let my kids help mould me into something better today?

Love the spring. Love our yard. Love my kids.

enoch can ride!

We've been working on getting Enoch to ride a two-wheeler for a while now. I am convinced that training wheels totally ruin kids as far as bike-riding is concerned. That and the fact that Enoch is convinced he can learn bike tricks before he can even ride. He would try to look sideways, stand-up, one-hand it and anything else you can think of before he could even pedal. It took him forever to get the balance thing. Well, it was taking forever, until my friend suggested we come over to her place and try riding down the small hill by her house. 3 rides down and Enoch had his balance in place. Just like that. His poor little legs had the hardest time pedaling on the grassy field, so we moved our bike learning operation back over to "the pad" and he continued to improve. He really got it once we switched to a smaller bike and he could touch the sides comfortably with both feet. Now he rides his bike to school. Enoch plans to open a school this summer for teaching other kids to ride a bike. The cost is only $2 and he will teach the whole world.

new friend

My friend showed me a fun website for tracking what you eat and how much you work out. It is very user friendly and well thought out. I am finding it super helpful to plan out my meals for the day, see what all I am eating, and then snack accordingly. (Who knew pepperoni sticks were 220 cal each? - no more eating 3 of those cause I am simply bored ). If interested, you can check out the website here.

March flew by and April is already almost half way done. We went to Calgary for Easter, which was fun as usual. The kids played with their cousins constantly, and even if a movie was on they were having too much fun to stop and watch it.

This is a big year for Levi, as he is turning 8. He recently found out that his grandmother will pay him $100 to read the Book of Mormon. He is game for that and has made a goal to read it by the time he is baptized. He tends to be a bit of a spaced reader, so we asked him to come to one of us at the end of each chapter and review it to make sure that he is soaking in some of the content. I've been impressed thus far with how much of the story he is understanding. Recently Levi's choir participated in the Kiwanis Festival, and we got to go hear them sing. He is not sure if he wants to continue with choir next year, but is still practicing piano with the promise of drums down the road.

I can't believe that Enoch is almost done Kindergarten. Didn't he learn to walk last week? After a failed attempt at piano lessons earlier in the year, he is now showing interest and we have "lessons" every few days or so. He is reading very well and likes to show off by reading the scriptures upside down when we read them as a family. We are still working on riding a 2 wheeler and hopefully it won't be too long before we can post some pictures of him in action.
Funny story: The other day Enoch wanted to ride his scooter to school and insisted on wearing his ski helmet and ski goggles. It was pretty awesome seeing him in his perceived glory showing up to the kindergarten room in all his gear. This guy always like to dress for whatever the occasion.

My little Monet is growing up to be quite the girl. I call her my Mini-Me because we get comments hinting at such so much. She does and says things that I did as a child. She is fairly stubborn, and really likes to do things all by herself. She has also been known to shout out at the camera, "Take a picture of me!" Which is something I used to bug my parents about constantly. I can really see a lot of her Auntie Annie in her though, too, so I guess that means perhaps that Josh and I look like siblings? Don't worry- I've done my genealogy and everything is OK. Monet can be either be extremely sweet or excrutiatingly demanding depending on the circumstance. I've never seen a child with such mood swings before. Luckily, there are a few things that will always brighten her day; Berenstain Bears, Thad, marshmellows, raisins and Starfall.

My baby is trying to grow up way too fast and it nearly breaks my heart. After several months of army crawling, he graduated to the real deal a couple weeks ago. Soon after he learned to crawl up and fall down the stairs. He is standing with the help of furniture and drinking real milk and not saying too much. He loves being outside in this lovely weather and tries to eat as many rocks and and leaves as possible.

movie night

We had a fun weekend watching family movies on our video camera. We don't have that many, partially due to laziness and partially due to Monet deleting half a years worth from the camera last summer. (Including Thad as a brand new babe, Josh singing in his school's musical AND Levi riding a two wheeler for the very first time.)!!!

What we had was still very incredible, though. The kids just loved seeing themselves on the big screen. I am definitely motivated to film more. Today I was reminiscing on here and found a couple gems.

hair cut

BEFORE:


Without thinking I went to town on Thad's hair. It is something I had been contemplating, but not really yet ready to do. I felt like a crazy person; waking up with a foggy memory and nothing but the hard evidence of scissors in one hand and detached hair in the other. He is less a baby and much more a boy now. :(
AFTER:


Since the haircut, a lot of people are really saying he looks just like Enoch. I think they are right!

Today my Monet-girl is three!! Three.

I am saddened that the time is moving so fast. Monet's loves in life right now are the following:

Thaddy-bear. Don't call him anything else, that is his name.
Barenstein Bear books. We read a few of these every day, and she covers her bed with them at night.
Strawberries and grapes and bananas.
Her backpack. BB books go in there.
Her daddy. She just lights up when he comes home from work.
"Helping in the kitchen."
Sneaking treats with Mommy. I always share and we give each other a nod, as in we are saying, "Yup, I understand you, too, Sister."
My Little Ponies.
Babysitters.

We love you Monet and are so happy to have you in our family.

so let it be written....

so let it be done!!!

I have formulated for myself a 90 day challenge for spring. And I am doing OK but I think I need some extra motivation.
I pinned the "summer arms challenge" on pinterest and that is part of my routine. But I think I may have sprained my wrist doing burpees (is that the right word?) and so I have let my arms rest for a few days.

I remember as a youth my YWs leader handed out these cards that said, "A goal not written is just a wish!" I kept that card for a looooonnnnngggg time. Loved it. Now I need to apply it.

My spring challenge is to not eat after 7. It is to have only one treat a day. It is to run 3 times a week. It is to do arms 3 times a week and abs 4 times a week. I have specific programs for all this, but I will spare you the details.

There, I said it, out loud. I am now accountable.

family trip

We found we had some extra time last week when visitors couldn't make it and the kids had an entire week off school. Josh even had 3 days off school, and one day without practice - so we thought it would be a great idea to go to Great Falls for a night.

Turns out great ideas don't always turn into great times.

We spent a bit of extra money on a fun hotel with a big slide, thinking the kids would love it. Turns out that only Levi would go on the slide because it was too big. I went on it once and was even a little scared. I have sure come a long way from my braver days.... I thought the extra money would be well worth it, because I was sure we would swim twice, once at night and of course once in the morning. HA!

Turns out Thad was up all night. As in all night. As in if he wasn't nursing, he was crying. Which meant the kids were half up all night, and Josh and I were up all night. So come morning time no one wanted to swim, everyone was really tired and grumpy, and you can just imagine the joys of shopping two tired parents would get with 4 tired (and turns out sick) kids.

There are two bright sides to this story, though. First, I got to eat at Cafe Rio. And second, while I feel like the money we spent was too much for the experience we had, we saved money in the long run because we were tempted to try a trip to Cali over Easter. I. don't. think. so.

v-day

Valentines was a little different around here. And fun.

Normally I never go to any great lengths for holidays. Partly because I hate the commercialism that seems to have taken hold on everything, and mostly because I am just too cheap. But this year, while perusing on Pinterest, the boys eyed a valentine that they just had to make. After a bit of trouble collecting the supplies, we spent a solid 3 hours together getting these ready for their classmates. They were happy crafting with me, and it really was a fun time together. We have already been looking for ideas for next year. It was time and money well spent.

Levi wanted me to add that it was the best Valentine's ever!!!


PS. This is the finished product from the website where we got the ideas. Sadly we never took pictures of the 40+ Superheroes that we made.

mango salsa

After all the fun I had with mangoes a weekend or two ago, I still had 4 mangoes left over.

So I made Mango Salsa. MMMmmm. I wrote down what I did and have already lost it. So I am writing it here and hope that I will never ever ever forget it. It was so good.

3 mangoes
1/4 cup red onion
1/2 green pepper
1/3 cup cilantro
1/2 jalepeno (use seeds according to taste)
pinch salt
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 tsp lemon juice

Dice everything up and eat with chips or crackers or just straight from your hand, I mean spoon.

saturday night

Superstore the other day had a deal where if you spent X amount of money, you got a free case of mangoes.

I don't really like mangoes, but it is hard to resist something free, especially if you are related to my parents.


So, after spending an extra $25 bucks at the merc in Raymond, I had a fun night to myself making this



Mango Chutney

and this



Mango Strawberry Jam


and this

Mango Jelly

It felt great to get my canner out and fill up some empty jars. Almost like winter doesn't really exist and its still the end of summer. I haven't tried the chutney yet, but it smelled SO good going into the jars, and I do know that the Mango Strawberry jam is delicious!

happenings

Don't forget:

Thad started rolling around right around Christmas time. By New Year's he could move in any desired direction he wanted. Now he is everywhere and into everything that is ground level. He still is not technically crawling, though. He does the worm everywhere. It is pretty cute and he is so proud of himself when he gets is arms and body up onto the bottom stair.

Monet says the cutest words. I will miss this when she talks more properly. Can you guess what they are? Bandi, Raingo and Mouwff are a few of my favorites. I can't believe she is almost 3.

Enoch is so hot and cold it is confusing. Of all my kids, he can be the best behaved. Unfortunately, the opposite is true as well. He loves Thad so much and thankfully has stopped hurting him. Now, instead he looks at him and gets so excited he just yells for joy. YELLS. I need to teach him the teeth clench.

Levi went skiing for the first time a week ago. He had a blast spending the day with Dad on the slopes. He picked it up pretty quick, and it only took a few falls going fairly fast before he realized that yes, he does need to learn how to turn. Tomorrow is Levi's first non-birthday party, a 'late-night" including a movie and games. Not much else has been talked about this week.

I am almost down my second round of only eating 3 treats a week. I have never been back in shape this soon after having a baby, and it feels pretty good.

Josh is MIA most evenings, but his team is doing well and they are a fun team to watch. Loooking forward to April and having him around more often.

jeopardy

Answer:
Levi: Being nice to your kids. Loving so much that your eyes fall out. Sharing love. Playing with your kids.

Monet: Being happy.

Enoch: Spanking your kids.

Mommy: Someone who works day in and day out to provide, love and care for their family.


Question:
What makes a good Daddy?