Something weird started happening about 5 years ago, and became such a problem that I could no longer blog here. But I have missed blogging and have come back and read so many of my old posts. I really enjoy writing. Words on paper to clear my head. I hope to write more words here soon. But not right now because this particular computer is about to die. Irony.
Loving our ever changing, crazy, fantastic life
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Saturday, August 4, 2018
The Toilet Paper Fairy
About 2 years ago, when all of our bathrooms needed to be restocked with toilet paper and our kids were of a certain age that I felt they could easily distribute it, I came up with the perfect name for that job.
Probably we had just had a child who had had a visit from the tooth fairy. Because the name of the toilet paper distributor is The Toilet Paper Fairy.
The Toilet Paper Fairy is the person who magically fills all the bathrooms with toilet paper so when we need a new roll, it is magically under the sink or in the basket for our use. I'm fairly sure it's because of the title that this is a fairly coveted role in our home. I've never had a kid tell me no, so even when the older kids have gotten over the magic of being the toilet paper fairy, I've got younger ones who think it's a cool job. They get to be a fairy!
Moral of the story: think up cool names for the boring jobs in your home and maybe your kids will learn to like it more. Maybe.
Probably we had just had a child who had had a visit from the tooth fairy. Because the name of the toilet paper distributor is The Toilet Paper Fairy.
The Toilet Paper Fairy is the person who magically fills all the bathrooms with toilet paper so when we need a new roll, it is magically under the sink or in the basket for our use. I'm fairly sure it's because of the title that this is a fairly coveted role in our home. I've never had a kid tell me no, so even when the older kids have gotten over the magic of being the toilet paper fairy, I've got younger ones who think it's a cool job. They get to be a fairy!
Moral of the story: think up cool names for the boring jobs in your home and maybe your kids will learn to like it more. Maybe.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Being Self Aware and Loving Yourself Anyway
My last post got me thinking, specifically the part where I said I was grateful for my husband, who loves me in spite of my messiness and who loves the parts of me that I don't necessarily love.
After I wrote that and posted it, I had the thought that maybe I shouldn't include such honesty. That there are parts of me that I don't love about myself. But people, we ALL have those feelings and thoughts. And just because I have those feelings today doesn't mean that I don't also see positives about myself in the same areas where I may struggle.
For example, I can be sensitive. I know, because people that I trust and love tell me so. And I can see it for myself. But I can also see those moments where instead of taking someone's words as a direct insult to myself, I can allow them to have their feelings. And I can try to see that though their words could be hurtful, I can just let them be said and move on. I don't have to be affected by their words or thoughts about me.
I guess I just want y'all to know, at the ripe old age of 37, I feel like I am learning to love more of my messy, unlovable parts because I am a product of my experiences and the people that I have loved and do love. And I'm proud of the years and thoughts and feelings and moments that make up who I am. Because who I am now encompasses all the good and the bad of my past and present. And without the lessons learned, I wouldn't be me.
I am learning that who I am is acceptable, and I mean all of me. All of the choices that weren't great, all the times I wasn't kind, when words I said hurt others, or the times I spent serving others out of love. Those parts are still there, and I am learning to come to a truce with myself. To forgive myself and try to do better. And to allow others the same privilege. Because no matter what, we are all loveable and worthy of love. Most of all, we are all worthy of each others love.
After I wrote that and posted it, I had the thought that maybe I shouldn't include such honesty. That there are parts of me that I don't love about myself. But people, we ALL have those feelings and thoughts. And just because I have those feelings today doesn't mean that I don't also see positives about myself in the same areas where I may struggle.
For example, I can be sensitive. I know, because people that I trust and love tell me so. And I can see it for myself. But I can also see those moments where instead of taking someone's words as a direct insult to myself, I can allow them to have their feelings. And I can try to see that though their words could be hurtful, I can just let them be said and move on. I don't have to be affected by their words or thoughts about me.
I guess I just want y'all to know, at the ripe old age of 37, I feel like I am learning to love more of my messy, unlovable parts because I am a product of my experiences and the people that I have loved and do love. And I'm proud of the years and thoughts and feelings and moments that make up who I am. Because who I am now encompasses all the good and the bad of my past and present. And without the lessons learned, I wouldn't be me.
I am learning that who I am is acceptable, and I mean all of me. All of the choices that weren't great, all the times I wasn't kind, when words I said hurt others, or the times I spent serving others out of love. Those parts are still there, and I am learning to come to a truce with myself. To forgive myself and try to do better. And to allow others the same privilege. Because no matter what, we are all loveable and worthy of love. Most of all, we are all worthy of each others love.
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Sunday Night Thoughts
Oh man, it has been a night. And best of all, a Sunday night. I have a whole 5 days before we get another weekend break, with nowhere to go and nothing to do. I'm tired and it's not even Monday yet.
Here's my aha moment for the night. I was grouchy with Bronwyn as she was going to bed because of a particular mess she and Mirren made, getting into some toys that I had packed away into a storage space in our downstairs.
I was feeling frustrated, imagining all the organization that would have to be re-done and all the things that would have to be straightened up again, and would surely need some of my help when it hit me. Why am I keeping these toys?
Clearly, there was a reason I packed them away and if I didn't like the mess my kids made with the toys and then my kids couldn't keep them picked up, well then, WHY in the heck did I even own these toys???
So, first thing tomorrow, I'm going through and taking out the things my kids CAN keep picked up and giving away the stuff that just mindlessly gets left out. Because sometimes too much stuff is just too much stuff and there's no point in keeping it if my kids have a hard time cleaning it all up.
So there you have it. I like a clean house and I like to be able to have my kids help make it happen. But if you came over on any random day, you probably wouldn't be able to tell I like to have an organized and clean house. Because I have something called "children" and they have to live somewhere. Ha ha.
Also, Happy Fathers Day. I'm grateful for Reed who helps validate my feelings even when I'm brimming with frustration because of this job called motherhood that I love but is also one of my greatest challenges. I'm grateful for Reed's calm steadiness. I'm grateful for his loving generosity for all of his family. I'm grateful for a confidant who loves all my messiness and my feelings and all the things I have a hard time loving about myself.
Here's my aha moment for the night. I was grouchy with Bronwyn as she was going to bed because of a particular mess she and Mirren made, getting into some toys that I had packed away into a storage space in our downstairs.
I was feeling frustrated, imagining all the organization that would have to be re-done and all the things that would have to be straightened up again, and would surely need some of my help when it hit me. Why am I keeping these toys?
Clearly, there was a reason I packed them away and if I didn't like the mess my kids made with the toys and then my kids couldn't keep them picked up, well then, WHY in the heck did I even own these toys???
So, first thing tomorrow, I'm going through and taking out the things my kids CAN keep picked up and giving away the stuff that just mindlessly gets left out. Because sometimes too much stuff is just too much stuff and there's no point in keeping it if my kids have a hard time cleaning it all up.
So there you have it. I like a clean house and I like to be able to have my kids help make it happen. But if you came over on any random day, you probably wouldn't be able to tell I like to have an organized and clean house. Because I have something called "children" and they have to live somewhere. Ha ha.
Also, Happy Fathers Day. I'm grateful for Reed who helps validate my feelings even when I'm brimming with frustration because of this job called motherhood that I love but is also one of my greatest challenges. I'm grateful for Reed's calm steadiness. I'm grateful for his loving generosity for all of his family. I'm grateful for a confidant who loves all my messiness and my feelings and all the things I have a hard time loving about myself.
Thursday, June 14, 2018
I Really Want To Upload Pictures, But I Can't.
Summer is finally here! School has been out for a few weeks already. Life is both busy and relaxing.
Last week we had 2 of Reed's 2nd cousins stay with us for a few days. A boy who is 13 and a littler boy who is 4. Let's just say, we were all exhausted when those days were done. We didn't know each other all that well, so that was pretty rough anyway, but it was hard for those kiddos to get dropped off with us. We didn't know enough about them to know what kinds of food they even liked, or what kinds of temperatures they were used to sleeping in. Lots of adjustments to make in a very short amount of time.
Aftyn just started a running club this morning that will last through the first part of August. I already foresee this being loads of fun for her and a great way to run off all her excess energy. At the end, she and all the kids will be running a 5k!
Bronwyn is busy. Busy playing with the neighbors and doing her job chart every morning. She just got new lenses for her glasses and gets to wear them pretty much all day now. So we're adjusting to another full time glasses wearer in the family. Lochlan and I are the only ones holding out. Bronwyn has been taking piano lessons from me for a few months and is doing awesome at it! She seems to be a natural and really enjoys learning how to play. She wants to learn how to walk a tightrope this summer. I need to do some research into how to even help her work toward that goal. She also wants to learn how to do a flip on the trampoline.
Mirren is having daily preschool and learning house cleaning skills like sorting laundry, vacuuming, and wiping off counters. She was already doing a lot of these things, but now that we have to do them daily, she's getting REALLY good at repeated skills. Such as vacuuming. And learning not to complain about having a job every day. She is doing great at riding her bike with training wheels, which was one of her goals this summer. She's really proud of herself and that's fun to see. She continues to grow like a weed and she and Bronwyn are nearly 1 size apart in clothes. But I think Bronwyn is having a growth spurt so we will have to see how things are sizing up in a few months.
Lochlan is stubborn and funny and mostly "So so so mad, Mom". Oh the toddler 'tude is strong with this one. He is busy and curious and wants to help with all the jobs at our house. He loves to look at books especially about Sesame Street and Ernie and Bert and all the old school characters, and dump trucks and diggers and trains and sprinklers. He is in that "let's learn about everything in books so I can continually point them out again and again when we read this book over and over" stage. It's a fun one. ;) Riding in the car with him is quite the adventure as well since he's always pointing out things as we drive. Often he tells me to "turn 'round, Look! Turn 'round, Mom". His new word in the car is "Wow! That's amazing!". He still LOVES to smell things and now proclaims "Mmmm, 'licious that!". It's hilarious and cute and he has no idea how sweet and funny it is to hear him say that. He's always telling me that he smells something. He has also started telling me "I love you Mom". That's the best. Today in the car he turned to Bronwyn who sits next to him and told her "I love you sister". Without provocation and just because. So if you look past the attitude and the grumpy words he has to say, there are moments that make it all worth it and help me to see the promise there.
Reed and I are doing well. Still waiting to finish being certified as foster parents but oh so close. Work is going well for Reed. Summer is keeping me busy. My usual crazy barrage of crafty projects is keeping me busy. Gotta get going on recovering my couch here in the next couple of days. I was just called to now be the 1st counselor in primary since the old one just moved. Not much changed but just enough that I need to get myself better organized there. Reed was just called to be the secretary in the Priesthood Organization. He loves to go and play basketball once a week with the ward. Plays outside almost nightly with the kids and they love that. If he doesn't play outside then it's hide and seek or tag inside. We love to play board games with our kids. It's fun that at least half of them can follow rules and understand how to play now.
That's it for this update. I want to post pictures and videos, I have so many! *sigh* I'll keep working on it.
Last week we had 2 of Reed's 2nd cousins stay with us for a few days. A boy who is 13 and a littler boy who is 4. Let's just say, we were all exhausted when those days were done. We didn't know each other all that well, so that was pretty rough anyway, but it was hard for those kiddos to get dropped off with us. We didn't know enough about them to know what kinds of food they even liked, or what kinds of temperatures they were used to sleeping in. Lots of adjustments to make in a very short amount of time.
Aftyn just started a running club this morning that will last through the first part of August. I already foresee this being loads of fun for her and a great way to run off all her excess energy. At the end, she and all the kids will be running a 5k!
Bronwyn is busy. Busy playing with the neighbors and doing her job chart every morning. She just got new lenses for her glasses and gets to wear them pretty much all day now. So we're adjusting to another full time glasses wearer in the family. Lochlan and I are the only ones holding out. Bronwyn has been taking piano lessons from me for a few months and is doing awesome at it! She seems to be a natural and really enjoys learning how to play. She wants to learn how to walk a tightrope this summer. I need to do some research into how to even help her work toward that goal. She also wants to learn how to do a flip on the trampoline.
Mirren is having daily preschool and learning house cleaning skills like sorting laundry, vacuuming, and wiping off counters. She was already doing a lot of these things, but now that we have to do them daily, she's getting REALLY good at repeated skills. Such as vacuuming. And learning not to complain about having a job every day. She is doing great at riding her bike with training wheels, which was one of her goals this summer. She's really proud of herself and that's fun to see. She continues to grow like a weed and she and Bronwyn are nearly 1 size apart in clothes. But I think Bronwyn is having a growth spurt so we will have to see how things are sizing up in a few months.
Lochlan is stubborn and funny and mostly "So so so mad, Mom". Oh the toddler 'tude is strong with this one. He is busy and curious and wants to help with all the jobs at our house. He loves to look at books especially about Sesame Street and Ernie and Bert and all the old school characters, and dump trucks and diggers and trains and sprinklers. He is in that "let's learn about everything in books so I can continually point them out again and again when we read this book over and over" stage. It's a fun one. ;) Riding in the car with him is quite the adventure as well since he's always pointing out things as we drive. Often he tells me to "turn 'round, Look! Turn 'round, Mom". His new word in the car is "Wow! That's amazing!". He still LOVES to smell things and now proclaims "Mmmm, 'licious that!". It's hilarious and cute and he has no idea how sweet and funny it is to hear him say that. He's always telling me that he smells something. He has also started telling me "I love you Mom". That's the best. Today in the car he turned to Bronwyn who sits next to him and told her "I love you sister". Without provocation and just because. So if you look past the attitude and the grumpy words he has to say, there are moments that make it all worth it and help me to see the promise there.
Reed and I are doing well. Still waiting to finish being certified as foster parents but oh so close. Work is going well for Reed. Summer is keeping me busy. My usual crazy barrage of crafty projects is keeping me busy. Gotta get going on recovering my couch here in the next couple of days. I was just called to now be the 1st counselor in primary since the old one just moved. Not much changed but just enough that I need to get myself better organized there. Reed was just called to be the secretary in the Priesthood Organization. He loves to go and play basketball once a week with the ward. Plays outside almost nightly with the kids and they love that. If he doesn't play outside then it's hide and seek or tag inside. We love to play board games with our kids. It's fun that at least half of them can follow rules and understand how to play now.
That's it for this update. I want to post pictures and videos, I have so many! *sigh* I'll keep working on it.
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Still Going
Life for the last 2 months has been so crazy. We have had new developments in our lives, as well the same old schedules that seemed to take on a faster speed.
About 6 weeks ago, I was put in as the 2nd counselor in the primary presidency in our ward. That has been a fun and challenging change. Time to get to know lots of new names. Working together in presidencies can be so rewarding and brings its own challenges at times.
Summer has finally decided that it's really coming here in Idaho Falls, so I've been putting in lots of time on our landscaping and yard in the last 5 weeks. I trimmed down 3 tree/bushes and took out 4 of those lovely evergreen-y bushes. You know, the flat lying ones that grow HUGE. That was my least favorite job. Those things are monsters. I still have to take out the main body on one of those and yes, I'm procrastinating it because I'm always being stabbed when I take them out and it's a very messy job. My parents thinned their raspberries at their house and gave us all the plants, so we have our own little raspberry patch that is still deciding if it's going to survive or not. We need to get a garden in and planted. I want to chop down our 2 pine trees. Still so much to do outside!
Bronwyn has been in a tap/ballet/jazz dance class this spring. She had her dance recital just a few days ago and if I had a way to upload a video, I totally would. But I don't at the moment, so, sorry. :(
Aftyn has been accepted into Bronwyn's charter school for next year and we are excited for her! We have really loved American Heritage for Bronwyn and can't wait to see what good things it does for Aftyn.
Something that has been a big thing in our lives for the past 2 months is that Reed and I are going through the process of becoming certified and licensed foster parents. This has been a very long process and not one that we're done with yet but we started it back in January. Just a few weeks ago, we finished taking the last of our 9 3-hour training classes. The 5 weeks of those classes were so hard, challenging and growing for our family. We learned to pull together, to get through hard things for a divine purpose. Reed and I learned SO MUCH from those classes that have changed us and really opened our eyes to the needs of not only the need for good foster homes but also how to foster attachment in our children and how to help foster safety in discipline for our kids. It's all been kind of a lot, this idea of foster care, but we're interested to see what Heavenly Father wants us to do with it. Our kids are excited at the idea of loving and accepting kids who need a safe home until their home is safe for them.
I am going to try going without comments here. I'm not getting many anyway, and maybe I just want a family record that you can read about with no pressure to say anything. I think I'm just going to give it a little try. Maybe it will help me want to write more often. Let's see!
About 6 weeks ago, I was put in as the 2nd counselor in the primary presidency in our ward. That has been a fun and challenging change. Time to get to know lots of new names. Working together in presidencies can be so rewarding and brings its own challenges at times.
Summer has finally decided that it's really coming here in Idaho Falls, so I've been putting in lots of time on our landscaping and yard in the last 5 weeks. I trimmed down 3 tree/bushes and took out 4 of those lovely evergreen-y bushes. You know, the flat lying ones that grow HUGE. That was my least favorite job. Those things are monsters. I still have to take out the main body on one of those and yes, I'm procrastinating it because I'm always being stabbed when I take them out and it's a very messy job. My parents thinned their raspberries at their house and gave us all the plants, so we have our own little raspberry patch that is still deciding if it's going to survive or not. We need to get a garden in and planted. I want to chop down our 2 pine trees. Still so much to do outside!
Bronwyn has been in a tap/ballet/jazz dance class this spring. She had her dance recital just a few days ago and if I had a way to upload a video, I totally would. But I don't at the moment, so, sorry. :(
Aftyn has been accepted into Bronwyn's charter school for next year and we are excited for her! We have really loved American Heritage for Bronwyn and can't wait to see what good things it does for Aftyn.
Something that has been a big thing in our lives for the past 2 months is that Reed and I are going through the process of becoming certified and licensed foster parents. This has been a very long process and not one that we're done with yet but we started it back in January. Just a few weeks ago, we finished taking the last of our 9 3-hour training classes. The 5 weeks of those classes were so hard, challenging and growing for our family. We learned to pull together, to get through hard things for a divine purpose. Reed and I learned SO MUCH from those classes that have changed us and really opened our eyes to the needs of not only the need for good foster homes but also how to foster attachment in our children and how to help foster safety in discipline for our kids. It's all been kind of a lot, this idea of foster care, but we're interested to see what Heavenly Father wants us to do with it. Our kids are excited at the idea of loving and accepting kids who need a safe home until their home is safe for them.
I am going to try going without comments here. I'm not getting many anyway, and maybe I just want a family record that you can read about with no pressure to say anything. I think I'm just going to give it a little try. Maybe it will help me want to write more often. Let's see!
Friday, April 27, 2018
Starting Again
Yes, I got lost for a few months there. Life has been its normal busy-ness with a few extras added in. So, I'm starting with today. Today, I called Bronwyn's school secretary to excuse her from class thanks to some awesome car brake issues we are having, but also to find out if she made it into her school's talent show that she auditioned for yesterday.
She! Made! It!!!!!
Bronwyn was so excited she squealed with excitement and gave me a hard hug around the neck. And then we set to work getting her ready again so we could video tape it for all of you to see.
She and I have worked hard on choreographing this dance, butting heads but still moving forward. We have spent hours practicing and brainstorming how to make it more her. She and I have put our hearts and souls into this dance. Because that's just how dorky I guess we are. Ha ha!!!
She told me, from the time she brought home the paper talking about the school talent show, that she wanted to do it and she wanted to dance. And since she seemed to have so much conviction about it, I figured it would be a great learning experience. And I'd say it has been.
Yesterday at her audition, she was so very very nervous when she saw all the older kids who filed into the gym to audition as well. She was the only kindergartner doing it. She held my arm like it was her life line and that made me worried that she might back out. But not once did she even mention the idea of quitting. She had planned to do it and she was going to do it by golly.
So without further ado, click on this link to take you to youtube so you can see it. And please don't share this link. https://youtu.be/VrUwH38Dk_s
She! Made! It!!!!!
Bronwyn was so excited she squealed with excitement and gave me a hard hug around the neck. And then we set to work getting her ready again so we could video tape it for all of you to see.
She and I have worked hard on choreographing this dance, butting heads but still moving forward. We have spent hours practicing and brainstorming how to make it more her. She and I have put our hearts and souls into this dance. Because that's just how dorky I guess we are. Ha ha!!!
She told me, from the time she brought home the paper talking about the school talent show, that she wanted to do it and she wanted to dance. And since she seemed to have so much conviction about it, I figured it would be a great learning experience. And I'd say it has been.
Yesterday at her audition, she was so very very nervous when she saw all the older kids who filed into the gym to audition as well. She was the only kindergartner doing it. She held my arm like it was her life line and that made me worried that she might back out. But not once did she even mention the idea of quitting. She had planned to do it and she was going to do it by golly.
So without further ado, click on this link to take you to youtube so you can see it. And please don't share this link. https://youtu.be/VrUwH38Dk_s
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Daily Dish Washing and Other Menial Tasks...
Yup, that's what my week consisted of, right up there in the title.
Except for that one day when I got tired of Mirren crying as I finger combed her fine curly hair, and in that moment I realized Mirren could very well look back on her childhood and only remember me "hurting her" (her words) when I combed through her hair and taking it personally. So, I did what any mom would do when she makes this realization.
Ke-chaw!! I chopped that hair within the hour and Mirren hasn't cried about her hair since. Mom win!! Her curls have realized a new curliness but it's just adorable on her.
I worked on my chair this week because I'm too afraid to just jump into the 8 foot couch, so I'm tiptoeing into that by getting the chair done. I painted the legs (2 coats) and then poly'd them as well (2 coats). That quite literally took most of the day because I had to wait so many hours between coats but in the meantime I started sewing all the pieces together. First I had to officially set up my sewing room (!!!!!) finally so now I have a comfortable workable set up where I can just sit down and sew whenever I need or want to. Why that took so long, who knows. Probably because I knew I needed to put my attention on the rest of the house before I could have my own private retreat for crafting.
Anyhow, I finished all the sewing about 10 pm on Saturday and I had to stop. Had to get my workout done and we had 9 am church this morning, so tomorrow morning, as soon as all the kids are in school, THAT CHAIR IS GETTING STAPLED TOGETHER!! I am soooooooo excited because it turned out so much more beautiful than I even knew it could. I love the fabric I picked out and only juts realized that the fabric resembles the fabric I've been pulling off my couch. Ha ha!! That's ironic, huh? Here's some pictures of the chair with the pieces draped where they should lay when it's all done.
Bottom picture is the before. This chair in its prime was SOO pretty. But now the fabric is dirty and ripped. :( My sister Alyson, crafty crafter extraordinaire, reupholstered it and gave it to us originally and did an awesome job! I solemnly promise to Scotchguard the new fabric and to never wear pants with back pocket buttons on it. (That's how the black spot got on the old chair. My button wore a hole in the fabric.)
Except for that one day when I got tired of Mirren crying as I finger combed her fine curly hair, and in that moment I realized Mirren could very well look back on her childhood and only remember me "hurting her" (her words) when I combed through her hair and taking it personally. So, I did what any mom would do when she makes this realization.
Ke-chaw!! I chopped that hair within the hour and Mirren hasn't cried about her hair since. Mom win!! Her curls have realized a new curliness but it's just adorable on her.
I worked on my chair this week because I'm too afraid to just jump into the 8 foot couch, so I'm tiptoeing into that by getting the chair done. I painted the legs (2 coats) and then poly'd them as well (2 coats). That quite literally took most of the day because I had to wait so many hours between coats but in the meantime I started sewing all the pieces together. First I had to officially set up my sewing room (!!!!!) finally so now I have a comfortable workable set up where I can just sit down and sew whenever I need or want to. Why that took so long, who knows. Probably because I knew I needed to put my attention on the rest of the house before I could have my own private retreat for crafting.
Anyhow, I finished all the sewing about 10 pm on Saturday and I had to stop. Had to get my workout done and we had 9 am church this morning, so tomorrow morning, as soon as all the kids are in school, THAT CHAIR IS GETTING STAPLED TOGETHER!! I am soooooooo excited because it turned out so much more beautiful than I even knew it could. I love the fabric I picked out and only juts realized that the fabric resembles the fabric I've been pulling off my couch. Ha ha!! That's ironic, huh? Here's some pictures of the chair with the pieces draped where they should lay when it's all done.
Bottom picture is the before. This chair in its prime was SOO pretty. But now the fabric is dirty and ripped. :( My sister Alyson, crafty crafter extraordinaire, reupholstered it and gave it to us originally and did an awesome job! I solemnly promise to Scotchguard the new fabric and to never wear pants with back pocket buttons on it. (That's how the black spot got on the old chair. My button wore a hole in the fabric.)
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Weekly Catch Up
Reed was gone allllll week. And by all, I mean, leaving Wednesday and getting home tonight, Sunday, at 4:30 pm. But we all survived.
Week highlights: My visiting teacher came over and brought homemade gluten free banana bread. It was delish and my kiddos ate all but the one piece I had eaten the night before for breakfast. Which I was totally fine with because it was buying me extra "not having to get out of bed yet" time.
Lochlan has been singing all week. Lots of made up gibberish, occasionally songs I actually know. Tonight it was "Choose the right". But only those 3 words. Ha ha!!
Aftyn has one more week of gymnastics. She has really loved that class. But I think she's maybe getting a bit bored and I'm excited to see what she thinks of the drawing class that starts next week.
Bronwyn is loving her ballet class! This teacher has really pushed to have her learn more actual ballet and less of a dance routine, and I love that for her. She is getting some really great discipline as well. She is also loving her charter school.
Mirren goes back in for her 6 week check up for her eye surgery. I'm a little worried because I've noticed increased redness on the inside of the eye that had surgery over the last few days and just today I noticed 2 small funky looking bulges on the inside of that same eye. I'm a little freaked because they definitely don't look normal so I'm glad we're seeing the eye surgeon in 2 days.
The weather has been so warm the last few days! We're loving it. The kids and Reed went for a short walk tonight before dinner to help get some of their wiggles out. Unfortunately, it didn't work. I know they really missed their Dad. Spring gets me all excited for PROJECTS! :) Here's my lineup as of right now: 1) Another kitchen light that I've been working on while Reed was gone. Hopefully going to get that finished this week. I just need to cut down my wooden hoops and then I can put that light together and hang it up!
2) Reupholstering our 8 foot couch. Getting some of the supplies I need to finish her up.
3)Reupholstering our chair for the front room. Getting new fabric for that this week as well.
That list is probably adequate for right now because all of those projects alone will take me at least a week to get done. I'll add some pictures to this post later. And I'll have some more pictures for next week to let you see how these projects are coming!
Week highlights: My visiting teacher came over and brought homemade gluten free banana bread. It was delish and my kiddos ate all but the one piece I had eaten the night before for breakfast. Which I was totally fine with because it was buying me extra "not having to get out of bed yet" time.
Lochlan has been singing all week. Lots of made up gibberish, occasionally songs I actually know. Tonight it was "Choose the right". But only those 3 words. Ha ha!!
Aftyn has one more week of gymnastics. She has really loved that class. But I think she's maybe getting a bit bored and I'm excited to see what she thinks of the drawing class that starts next week.
Bronwyn is loving her ballet class! This teacher has really pushed to have her learn more actual ballet and less of a dance routine, and I love that for her. She is getting some really great discipline as well. She is also loving her charter school.
Mirren goes back in for her 6 week check up for her eye surgery. I'm a little worried because I've noticed increased redness on the inside of the eye that had surgery over the last few days and just today I noticed 2 small funky looking bulges on the inside of that same eye. I'm a little freaked because they definitely don't look normal so I'm glad we're seeing the eye surgeon in 2 days.
The weather has been so warm the last few days! We're loving it. The kids and Reed went for a short walk tonight before dinner to help get some of their wiggles out. Unfortunately, it didn't work. I know they really missed their Dad. Spring gets me all excited for PROJECTS! :) Here's my lineup as of right now: 1) Another kitchen light that I've been working on while Reed was gone. Hopefully going to get that finished this week. I just need to cut down my wooden hoops and then I can put that light together and hang it up!
2) Reupholstering our 8 foot couch. Getting some of the supplies I need to finish her up.
3)Reupholstering our chair for the front room. Getting new fabric for that this week as well.
That list is probably adequate for right now because all of those projects alone will take me at least a week to get done. I'll add some pictures to this post later. And I'll have some more pictures for next week to let you see how these projects are coming!
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Christmas 2017 Pictures
30 pounds lost!
Christmas Eve, Loch's was already asleep
Close one eye and squint. ;)
she found after Christmas
Catch Up Post: Normal Life For The Past 2 Months
Bronwyn getting ready for school.
Also, our bannister all decked out with lights for the holidays.
I wish I had this kids hair.
The color is fun, the texture is good.
I have way too much fun doing it for him.
He has a new appreciation for smells.
He is sniffing all the time, telling everyone they smell "good".
He's always sniffing his hair products after I put them in,
telling me they smell good. Same with my perfume.
He cracks me up.
Girls are going to love him and his appreciation for scents. :)
Bronwyn and her poses.
I swear, she wants to be a model.
I swear, she wants to be a model.
Mirren, mid dance. She LOVES to dance and sing.
Music is in her blood.
Our outdoor lights.
The paint was chipping and needed to be freshened up.
Majorly!
Yes, I am absolutely in love with our lights spray painted copper.
Go ahead and tell me you think they don't match.
Our neighbor boy did already and guess what!
You and he would both be wrong.
This color is gorgeous.
Last of all, Mirren got a really fun gift for her birthday.
It was the most fun gift she didn't know she even wanted!
Our big 4 year old girl. Sure love her and her big smiles.
Monday, January 8, 2018
Finally, 14 years and one week ago, Pt 2
his mother and how I became his birth mother instead.
So I had said my goodbyes to Isaac, handed him to his adoptive dad, and I just felt ready to leave. I couldn't think too hard about what I was about to do, and so I was holding onto this peaceful, calm feeling inside of me. This moment was what I had been preparing for and praying about for months.
It was time for me to walk out the door with my parents and leave my baby with his new parents.
I remember glimpsing him one last time in his dad's arms as I walked out the doors of the LDS Family Services office. It seemed odd to see his dad in there talking and smiling as if what I was doing was perfectly normal, leaving my baby with strangers who would become his parents.
I sat quietly in the car and buckled myself in. It was quiet on the ride home. I don't remember the radio being on or anyone talking at all. I know I didn't have much to say. I was just thinking and holding onto that feeling of comfort.
It was a quick 10 minute drive home. I walked into the house and took myself downstairs to my room where I had been living for months. I didn't even make it 12 feet before the strongest yearning came over me, a yearning for my baby. And I started to cry as my heart finally took in what I had just done. I HAD JUST LEFT MY BABY WITH STRANGERS AND HE NEEDED ME. I was his mother! I knew instinctively what he needed, I knew his smell, his sounds, his cries. I knew the feel of his grasp on my finger. I decided then and there that there was no way, in spite of all my promises to myself that I wouldn't go back on my word, that I could do this to my baby. It felt so unnatural and hurt so deeply. I went upstairs to my mom and I informed her, through my torrent of tears, that we had to go back and we had to get my baby. That I was sorry but I wanted Isaac. This hurt too much.
And my mother told me "Alysa, you are just tired. You need to get some sleep. You have hardly slept in days." I knew what my mom was saying, that she wouldn't help me go back and that I couldn't change what had already happened. It was for the best and I knew it. She told me to lay on the couch and she would get me a blanket so I could take a nap. And that's what I did. I stupidly laid on the couch because what else could I do.
I think my mother must have been the one to grab the little bear Isaac's adoptive parents gave to me. When she handed me the blanket, the bear was in my hands. It was just the size of Isaac but without his added weight and without his special to me smell. I lay there holding it to my chest, crying silently as my tired body betrayed me by relaxing until I could no longer think of him, except in my dreams. This was the moment when my heart really and truly broke. I think of this moment very similarly as to when the Savior allowed himself to be killed. He allowed others to hurt him because he knew it was what he needed to do. I do not compare myself to Jesus, but the sacrifice in allowing myself to be hurt to help others is very real. I do not know how I had the strength to continue on from this point because it was such a low and humble place. I was truly broken. My heart, my spirit, my hope.
I slept for a few hours, exhausted. I woke up to early evening and my parents quietly preparing and eating dinner. I went in and rather dejectedly ate. I had little appetite and didn't want to eat. I just wanted to be in my sorrow. I think my parents sensed my mood and quickly printed out all the pictures we had taken in the hospital. And there my baby was, alive again to me. Those moments all too real again, in color. His little eyes, his nose, his fingers, his feet. I could smell him again almost. Those pictures saved me. My sister had taken a video of Isaac while we were in the hospital and I watched it again and again that night. He was real. He had been mine. But he wasn't mine anymore. I didn't do a lot of talking that night, I just looked and looked at pictures and video that confirmed over and over that he had been mine, that he was real.
And later that night, I took my pictures to bed with me. The last thing I saw before my eyes closed, the first thing I could see when my eyes opened. I talked to those pictures, the same that I had when he'd been inside of me. It was soothing to my soul, to still feel that he cared and wanted the best for me. I knew that he knew he was going to have a new life away from me. I prayed constantly that he was okay, that he was being comforted.
And when I woke up to a new morning, my new life started. Because I would never be the same person that I had been before.
I found out a few days after placement that they had named my son Nicolas and kept the name Isaac as his middle name in honor of me since that was the name Carlos and I had decided on. I do feel that was special and something I'm grateful for.
14 years and one week ago now.....
Before I continue this story, here's some of my thoughts on my documenting these memories from 14 years ago. These memories hurt. Yes, I write them down so that YOU and anyone else who wants to can read and hear from my perspective about placing my newborn child for adoption. What you don't see is the anguish, the tears and sobbing, the sadness and loneliness. This remembering is physically painful, emotionally painful. I can smell the smells, feel his skin, the weight of his body in my arms and the emotions like it was just yesterday. So I write the words for you to read, but I mostly write this for myself, for my kids, for my husband, and someday for my son to read.
The next part of my story actually hurts more than any other part, which is why I have been loathe to write it. It's the part where I move on as if my life were unaffected by the fact that I just grew a human, loved him with every breath of my body and then with all that still happening, placing him into the arms of people who I trust after only knowing them for, really, a few hours and walking away so that they can take him home to integrate into their family and pretending like their lives haven't just changed in some hugely dynamic unexpected way. And same for me. I have had to live my life for the last 14 years like those 3 days of my life of giving birth, seeing my baby become a reality and then in that next instant giving him to a couple to call Mom and Dad. I have had to "act" like my life didn't just change forever. Because it did and it will forever be changed. It will forever be both happier and more sad in the same breath.
The next part of my story actually hurts more than any other part, which is why I have been loathe to write it. It's the part where I move on as if my life were unaffected by the fact that I just grew a human, loved him with every breath of my body and then with all that still happening, placing him into the arms of people who I trust after only knowing them for, really, a few hours and walking away so that they can take him home to integrate into their family and pretending like their lives haven't just changed in some hugely dynamic unexpected way. And same for me. I have had to live my life for the last 14 years like those 3 days of my life of giving birth, seeing my baby become a reality and then in that next instant giving him to a couple to call Mom and Dad. I have had to "act" like my life didn't just change forever. Because it did and it will forever be changed. It will forever be both happier and more sad in the same breath.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
14 years Ago Yesterday, What I Remember But Don't Like To PT 1
New Years Day 2004. It had snowed a lot the night before and was still snowing, if I remember right. So the roads were a mess but from inside my hospital room, the world was white and beautiful. I woke up with dread. It was the day I had been leading up to, the day I had said I would take this baby who I loved with all my heart to an office where a couple I had picked to parent him would take him from me, or rather I would place him in their arms and they would take him with my permission home to be a part of their family.
Here's some facts: I had met this couple face to face once. Looking back, we had never REALLY discussed what open adoption looked like for them or for me. Visits, letters, phone calls had never been discussed in too great detail. I didn't even know where they lived or where my child would call home. I didn't know their last name.
Back to my story. Carlos had promised me he would come back before we had planned to leave the hospital to say his goodbye, so with that thought I slowly got my baby and myself ready for the actual placement. I don't remember dressing him, maybe my mom did that. I do remember dressing myself and showering. I remember stressing and worrying about Carlos coming because he just didn't seem to be coming. My counselor called finally, wondering when we would be coming to his office to do the placement. I told him my predicament and after talking to him, I decided to call Carlos to see what was going on. Over that phone call, Carlos told me he didn't want to come and say goodbye because it would be too painful. If only I too could have taken that out, so someone else could do what I still had to do. I don't really blame him. He didn't know how to deal with personal pain well. I knew I wanted to spend every last second with my Isaac until he was no longer mine to care for anymore and so I would see this through for my son.
Knowing that I was truly on my own in this decision of placing my child with another family, it was with a heavy heart that we left the hospital, my parents, my baby and I and got into the car. I was slightly nervous as I thought about and wondered what placement would actually be like. No one had really prepared me except for the fact that I would be there and his adoptive parents would be there and my counselor would be there. We went to the LDS Family Services Office where my counselor was waiting for us. He asked me a few questions that meant nothing to me at the time. I asked him if he wanted to hold my baby and he kinda freaked out. Still not sure why, but it's definitely something I remember.
I have pictures from that room. I don't remember feeling as happy as I looked. I teared up a few times while we waited for his adoptive parents to come but I was trying to hold my emotions back. And suddenly they were there. Their mere presence made me feel that there was something wrong in my holding my son and yet he was still mine. I needed to see that he would be taken care of, so I handed him to his adoptive mom despite her protests. I watched her face closely, her hands as they moved over his body. To ensure that my boy would be tenderly cared for, that she would love him with almost as much love as I had. His adoptive mom can be very reserved in her facial expressions and so it was hard to glean much. But the gentleness of her hands told me that my boy would be cared for, and that she would cherish him. Their older son was there and was quite a handful at 2 years old. He was excited for this baby that was suddenly his little brother. I don't remember a whole lot about our time together but it went too quickly.
My counselor told me it was time for me to go and have some alone time with my baby and say goodbye. I remember feeling it was all too surreal, as I went and sat in this quiet office alone on a couch with my baby. What was there to say that hadn't been said already? I had been preparing this baby for months from outside my womb that he would have a different family from me. That he needed to be a good boy. That I loved him so so much. That they would be his family and they would take care of him and love him. It felt like these were things I had already said so many times to him. I felt impatient to just let him go and let him be with his family because no amount of time holding him in that room would make up for the lifetime of years I would miss holding him.
And so I held him close, snuggled his little body close to mine one more time and kissed his soft cheek and stood up. Walked to the door, opened it, walked out to the front office one more time and handed him to his adoptive dad. I was ready to go. I don't remember saying a whole lot more, I was just ready to go. That sounds so cold and hard. But I couldn't think about what I was about to do because to think of it now makes my head spin. How did I walk away from my newborn baby boy like that?!? I was being comforted and hugged I know by angels and by my Heavenly Father because I will tell you, that was a once in a lifetime thing. NEVER again have I ever been able to leave my little babies and so I don't. But that day I did, and it still leaves me aching inside.
Here's some facts: I had met this couple face to face once. Looking back, we had never REALLY discussed what open adoption looked like for them or for me. Visits, letters, phone calls had never been discussed in too great detail. I didn't even know where they lived or where my child would call home. I didn't know their last name.
Back to my story. Carlos had promised me he would come back before we had planned to leave the hospital to say his goodbye, so with that thought I slowly got my baby and myself ready for the actual placement. I don't remember dressing him, maybe my mom did that. I do remember dressing myself and showering. I remember stressing and worrying about Carlos coming because he just didn't seem to be coming. My counselor called finally, wondering when we would be coming to his office to do the placement. I told him my predicament and after talking to him, I decided to call Carlos to see what was going on. Over that phone call, Carlos told me he didn't want to come and say goodbye because it would be too painful. If only I too could have taken that out, so someone else could do what I still had to do. I don't really blame him. He didn't know how to deal with personal pain well. I knew I wanted to spend every last second with my Isaac until he was no longer mine to care for anymore and so I would see this through for my son.
Knowing that I was truly on my own in this decision of placing my child with another family, it was with a heavy heart that we left the hospital, my parents, my baby and I and got into the car. I was slightly nervous as I thought about and wondered what placement would actually be like. No one had really prepared me except for the fact that I would be there and his adoptive parents would be there and my counselor would be there. We went to the LDS Family Services Office where my counselor was waiting for us. He asked me a few questions that meant nothing to me at the time. I asked him if he wanted to hold my baby and he kinda freaked out. Still not sure why, but it's definitely something I remember.
I have pictures from that room. I don't remember feeling as happy as I looked. I teared up a few times while we waited for his adoptive parents to come but I was trying to hold my emotions back. And suddenly they were there. Their mere presence made me feel that there was something wrong in my holding my son and yet he was still mine. I needed to see that he would be taken care of, so I handed him to his adoptive mom despite her protests. I watched her face closely, her hands as they moved over his body. To ensure that my boy would be tenderly cared for, that she would love him with almost as much love as I had. His adoptive mom can be very reserved in her facial expressions and so it was hard to glean much. But the gentleness of her hands told me that my boy would be cared for, and that she would cherish him. Their older son was there and was quite a handful at 2 years old. He was excited for this baby that was suddenly his little brother. I don't remember a whole lot about our time together but it went too quickly.
My counselor told me it was time for me to go and have some alone time with my baby and say goodbye. I remember feeling it was all too surreal, as I went and sat in this quiet office alone on a couch with my baby. What was there to say that hadn't been said already? I had been preparing this baby for months from outside my womb that he would have a different family from me. That he needed to be a good boy. That I loved him so so much. That they would be his family and they would take care of him and love him. It felt like these were things I had already said so many times to him. I felt impatient to just let him go and let him be with his family because no amount of time holding him in that room would make up for the lifetime of years I would miss holding him.
And so I held him close, snuggled his little body close to mine one more time and kissed his soft cheek and stood up. Walked to the door, opened it, walked out to the front office one more time and handed him to his adoptive dad. I was ready to go. I don't remember saying a whole lot more, I was just ready to go. That sounds so cold and hard. But I couldn't think about what I was about to do because to think of it now makes my head spin. How did I walk away from my newborn baby boy like that?!? I was being comforted and hugged I know by angels and by my Heavenly Father because I will tell you, that was a once in a lifetime thing. NEVER again have I ever been able to leave my little babies and so I don't. But that day I did, and it still leaves me aching inside.
Sunday, December 31, 2017
14 years ago Today, What I Remember
14 years ago today, I was in a hospital bed with my newborn in my arms. Tired because I had given birth later in the evening the night before and then called his dad, my ex-husband, at work to tell him I had had our baby. And then I had stayed up into the wee hours of the morning when he got off of work and came to see our little guy.
I knew that once he saw his sweet little face, he wouldn't be able to face the idea of placing our son for adoption. And I was right. He begged me to please re-consider this plan I had made. That we could be a family and we could keep our baby. But I knew the truth and it was that he was scared. He was scared to hurt as much as this would hurt and he knew that the decision I had made was the best decision for our son. Do you know how much this makes me cry even as I type this?!?! Because even now, I know it is true and I know how much pain I've gone through in making this decision that has broken my heart over and over and over again over the last 14 years. But our little son, who was so precious and trusting and pure, needed more than we could offer to him.
When he finally knew that I wouldn't re-consider, he hugged our sweet little son,looked into his eyes and left. And that was the last time he ever saw him in this life in person. Because my ex husband died last year and they will never have that opportunity again in this life.
It was 2 am and Carlos, my ex, promised me he would be coming back later before I left the hospital on the 1st of January to "say goodbye". So I went off to sleep with my mother in our room and I slept with my little babe in my arms because I wanted to soak in as much time with him as I possibly could. Every hour in the hospital I cried because it was one hour closer to handing him away and saying goodbye. So, 14 years ago, I was having each of my siblings come to meet my little Isaac and so many of them did. All but one sibling was able to come to the hospital and hold him. Sometime during that day, I received a visit from my counselor from LDS Family Services and he brought with him a flower bouquet from the couple I had chosen to parent my baby. He was there briefly and I carried on with my day of holding my son with my limited "forever". And in the evening 14 years ago, my mother made me wear a happy new years hat and balloons and all kinds of party decorations and I just sat in that hospital bed with my baby in my arms and my eyes red from crying because the next day would come placement. And my baby would not be "my" baby anymore. And so I just kept crying on and off all night. Much like I am as I write this.
I knew that once he saw his sweet little face, he wouldn't be able to face the idea of placing our son for adoption. And I was right. He begged me to please re-consider this plan I had made. That we could be a family and we could keep our baby. But I knew the truth and it was that he was scared. He was scared to hurt as much as this would hurt and he knew that the decision I had made was the best decision for our son. Do you know how much this makes me cry even as I type this?!?! Because even now, I know it is true and I know how much pain I've gone through in making this decision that has broken my heart over and over and over again over the last 14 years. But our little son, who was so precious and trusting and pure, needed more than we could offer to him.
When he finally knew that I wouldn't re-consider, he hugged our sweet little son,looked into his eyes and left. And that was the last time he ever saw him in this life in person. Because my ex husband died last year and they will never have that opportunity again in this life.
It was 2 am and Carlos, my ex, promised me he would be coming back later before I left the hospital on the 1st of January to "say goodbye". So I went off to sleep with my mother in our room and I slept with my little babe in my arms because I wanted to soak in as much time with him as I possibly could. Every hour in the hospital I cried because it was one hour closer to handing him away and saying goodbye. So, 14 years ago, I was having each of my siblings come to meet my little Isaac and so many of them did. All but one sibling was able to come to the hospital and hold him. Sometime during that day, I received a visit from my counselor from LDS Family Services and he brought with him a flower bouquet from the couple I had chosen to parent my baby. He was there briefly and I carried on with my day of holding my son with my limited "forever". And in the evening 14 years ago, my mother made me wear a happy new years hat and balloons and all kinds of party decorations and I just sat in that hospital bed with my baby in my arms and my eyes red from crying because the next day would come placement. And my baby would not be "my" baby anymore. And so I just kept crying on and off all night. Much like I am as I write this.
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
14 Years Ago Today, What I Remember
14 years ago today, I was hugely pregnant and tired beyond belief. I was 2 days away from my due date with no end in sight. This was both relieving to me and vexing. I was, typically, so done with being pregnant but I knew that each day I wasn't in labor was one more day with my baby boy before he was gone to live with his family.
The day before, on Christmas Day, my parents and 2 sisters and I had gone to my sister Suzette's for a Christmas morning breakfast. I recall eating too much, feeling too full and then feeling tired. Sounds like a pregnant lady, right? But my poor brother Jon and his wife, upon not being able to find anyone at my parents home, thought that surely I had gone into labor on Christmas and then spent some time on the phone calling around to the hospitals to find us. That memory has always made me feel a little bad and made me laugh. How spectacular would it have been to have a baby on Christmas, just like my Grandpa Whiting had been born as well. And also, all these years later, I'm grateful for the few days cushion between Christmas Day and my son's actual birthday. It helps me to have time to be happy before I find myself lost in my memories and the celebration of a life lived separately from mine.
The day before, on Christmas Day, my parents and 2 sisters and I had gone to my sister Suzette's for a Christmas morning breakfast. I recall eating too much, feeling too full and then feeling tired. Sounds like a pregnant lady, right? But my poor brother Jon and his wife, upon not being able to find anyone at my parents home, thought that surely I had gone into labor on Christmas and then spent some time on the phone calling around to the hospitals to find us. That memory has always made me feel a little bad and made me laugh. How spectacular would it have been to have a baby on Christmas, just like my Grandpa Whiting had been born as well. And also, all these years later, I'm grateful for the few days cushion between Christmas Day and my son's actual birthday. It helps me to have time to be happy before I find myself lost in my memories and the celebration of a life lived separately from mine.
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Tired
Over the past 16 days, I have traveled to Nampa and back, Ogden and back, Bountiful and back and today thanks to awful driving conditions only to Pocatello and back and NOT to Nampa. Secretly I'm glad. That would have been approximately four 3+ hour drives in the past 16 days. Our car is so filthy I don't even like to touch it if I can help it and I keep telling the kids to keep their hands off everything except the door handles. I tried to go to the car wash last night, only to find it closed. And then I gave up on trying to get the dang car clean. After trip number 2, I got 2 new tires put on the van and boy have I been grateful for the extra traction that has provided in all this snowy weather.
We have 2 weddings this month, and then had a surprise eye surgery pop up which also included a preemptive appointment to make sure surgery was needed. Fortunately/unfortunately, it was. And so it happened last Thursday. And we made it back on Thursday afternoon. And the snow started on Friday night. What a blessing that it held off for one more day so we could make it home safely and focus on Mirren's recovery.
Bronwyn is out of school now until the 2nd of January and Aftyn gets out of school for Christmas break this Friday and then goes back on the 8th of January.
I'd write more but I think the title of this post tells you why that's not happening right now. I'll try to get some pictures posted soon.
We have 2 weddings this month, and then had a surprise eye surgery pop up which also included a preemptive appointment to make sure surgery was needed. Fortunately/unfortunately, it was. And so it happened last Thursday. And we made it back on Thursday afternoon. And the snow started on Friday night. What a blessing that it held off for one more day so we could make it home safely and focus on Mirren's recovery.
Bronwyn is out of school now until the 2nd of January and Aftyn gets out of school for Christmas break this Friday and then goes back on the 8th of January.
I'd write more but I think the title of this post tells you why that's not happening right now. I'll try to get some pictures posted soon.
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Halloween 2018
Everybody chose a couple things on the house to decorate and had a lot of fun
doing it.
to complete his look.
I ended up making was Aftyn's out of a pair of women's top and bottom pajama set from
the Deseret Industries. The kids had so much fun and got lots of candy, so in all
a very memorable Halloween.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Nothing New
Dear Blog Readers,
I have been waiting, trying to figure out how to upload all the fun pictures I have to share because our new home computer does not have a card reader . :( My solution is coming in the mail and THEN dear readers, there will be lots and lots and lots of blog posts and pictures and other lovely details of our lives here. Here's just a preview of what I have to write about: Lochlan turned 2! Halloween! Bronwyn going to charter school! and loads of other exciting posts. Stay tuned!
I have been waiting, trying to figure out how to upload all the fun pictures I have to share because our new home computer does not have a card reader . :( My solution is coming in the mail and THEN dear readers, there will be lots and lots and lots of blog posts and pictures and other lovely details of our lives here. Here's just a preview of what I have to write about: Lochlan turned 2! Halloween! Bronwyn going to charter school! and loads of other exciting posts. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Our Concrete Job
I told Reed he should do this on the side. He's good!
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