another

not my idea

just agreed to it after a bit of a tantrum

wanted to have more of a break

it took on the first try

it wasn't just a test of my faith
looking for a midwife
excited

patrick is up for the challenge
justin looks at me in a different way

with a twinkle in his eye

{he understands it}

anna wants to know if she gets a sister ASAP

considering finding out the gender for the first time ever

{she begs me to find out}

dallin thinks it's a dirl

devon pulls up my shirt, pokes my belly and says baby

 

 

more than i remember with previous times

up and down nausea

so glad a warm epsom salt bath usually makes it all better

{i take lots and lot of those}

glad we have a well for water and a new soaker tub

can't stand the smells of cooking

even bacon!?!?!

what's up with me?

exhausted

MUST take a nap every day

luckily i don't have to lay on the couch all day very often

picky eater

tummy fills quickly

sensitive to textures

eating some sugar for the 1st time in a year

must eat hamburger!

and Mexican food

and ketchup

and chocolate

and oranges

and grilled cheese sandwiches

and sushi

and tomatoes

but not combined

phew!

 

glad to have had a strong prompting

it will make it easier when things are hard

His idea

 

happy to have a miracle growing inside of me

baby number 5 is due around the end of summer

all the seats in the 7 passenger mini-van will be full

another baby to love
 another element to add to the beautiful chaos

what a blessing!

9 am joy

This year, we are assigned to go to church at 9:00!

I LOVE IT!

And it may also be the end of me!

Oh sure, it's only 1 day a week, but for a homeschooling family that only leaves the house before noon 1 other day of the week at 9:30, it's quite a challenge for us!

The first two weeks of the year, we were on time half of the time even!

Then, I was asked to speak in church!
On the same day I was to teach the children Sharing Time in Sunday school!

AND they wanted me to be there at 8:30!

Gasp.

I was tempted to have me speak the following week, but I decided I may manage.

I did my best to prepare in advance for my talk and lesson with prayer and thought and I felt directed, but my talk just hadn't jelled.

I set out the younger boys outfits out the night before.

When the alarm (which I NEVER use at this point in my life) woke me, I got ready then tied up the loose ends for my talk while Patrick tried to rally the troops, which is no small undertaking!

They pushed us to the limit and there was weeping and gnashing of teeth, but we survived and we were on our way!

We made it to the church at 8:50, and were greeted by a kind (perspiring) bishop, I sat down and let out a sigh of relief then continued to gather my final thoughts.

I delivered my talk on Temple work and was so grateful to have the help of the Holy Ghost to fill in the gaps.

I felt good as I sat down, knowing I had shared what I was prompted to and that I had learned what I needed at this time in my life!

As I sat while the next speaker spoke, I felt grateful for my children seated below.
I was even more grateful for Patrick and his composure as he tried to keep them under wraps.
I felt such joy and shed a few tears as I looked at my family from a different viewpoint!

All thoughts of the tumult of that morning vanished, and I savored the moment.



After the feelings of mommy joy flooded my body....I noticed Devon's hair.

 

 Then Dallin's, Anna's and Justin's. I next noticed the dirty ties, dirty faces and wrinkly dress.

Not a single one was groomed...

and in that moment, it just didn't matter!

When I got home from church, I documented their hair-do's (or the lack thereof) and their cute little faces.

Next week, when there is not so much on my mind, I will hopefully notice them BEFORE leaving the house!



My Baby. Two.

I can hardly believe it!

 

My baby is two!

 

Now that I don't complicate things any more than needs be for birthdays, making a two year old happy on his big day is a cinch!

 

I made a cake, had the kids wrap a few gifts, threw up the trusty pennant, lit some chopsticks on fire (not a tradition...I couldn't find the real candles), and we sang him a happy song! 

 

A perfect birthday for my cute little guy.

 

Here's some stuff about Devon at two!

Thanks for the idea Melissa. ;)
  Height and Weight: 

30" and 28#

Favorite Color:
Undecided

Favorite Foods:
Apples are his favorite, but Devon will eat most anything!

He loves food, and eats lots of it!

Favorite Treat:
Dried figs, raisins and anything he can get his dad to share with him.

 

Favorite Toys:
Babies, dishes, blocks and cars.

Favorite Outfit:
None at all.

Seriously.

It is sooo hard to get him to keep clothes on...

Favorite Activities:

Lately, he LOVES looking at picture books, just like his siblings.

He has also become rather fond of climbing on tables.

Were trying to undo that one.

What makes him happy:

Animals, especially dogs and chicks, people acting silly and welcoming daddy home! He sure loves his daddy.

He's more of a daddy's boy than any of the other kids.

 

What makes him sad:
Until, two weeks ago, it was being in nursery.

He dislikes it when anyone leaves and he doesn't get to go...especially when it is daddy that leaves him.

Personality Traits:

 Bashful, rambunctious, explosive, stubborn if asked to do something, reserved in new settings, easy going, easily entertained, loving when he warms up to others, star of the show, and independent.

On the way out the door to go the auntie's house for his first sleepover.
He was mostly a big boy. :)

Skills he is mastering:

Copying anything and everything we do. He also repeats us constantly.He was potty trained last month and loves the attention he gets, but is reconsidering his options at the moment. Running with a little waddle. Cleaning like everyone else. Helping out and being a big boy.

 

Testimony:
He loves seeing pictures of Jesus and pointing him out. He loves to pray like us and can repeat what we say. I have even heard him praying on his own once.

So cute.

White and Wild New Year

 What's almost as good as a white Christmas?

A white New Year!

All day on New Years Eve we watched the snow fall from the picture window of Patrick's mom's hospital room. It was quite the tender mercy to behold as we sat there during her recovery from urgent gallbladder surgery. We get snow only a few times a year here and this was the first snow of the year so it was a special treat!

It was magical even.

The snowflakes where light and fluffy, clumped together in large bunches.

We got home after dark that night, but the kids were incredibly excited.

 

That evening, we had a "wild night." After all, 4 kids up past midnight is anything but tame! They all even made it to midnight! They wouldn't dare miss getting their share of the best rootbeer know to man {Virgil's}, a rousing game of Memory Matching, crackers and cheese, some coconut milk ice cream and the traditional beating on pots and pans.

 

New Year's Morning when we finally got out of bed after a late night, we got to be hold the beauty.

 

 I really enjoyed walking the property with a fresh blanket of beautiful white snow.

 

Thankfully abnormal below freezing temps even allowed it to stay on the ground for 3 days! 

 The snow is gone now, and Grandma is home.

 And all it green again.