Hadley's Confirmation

A friend gave me notes from Hadley's baptism confirmation blessing:

Blessing to remember most of all how you felt today;
This day will be a foundation for further spiritual growth;
Understand the importance of the Holy Ghost;
Be able to discern good from evil;
Stay on the path leading to the temple;
Recognize that you have a warm, friendly spirit;
Continue to be a good example to brother & sisters;
Bless you confidence in your learning.

Update

One of my deepest regrets will always be the lack of good, quality, consistent, & meaningful family pictures.  I decided today right before church that at the very least I should be able to take a picture once a week.  Then, when I looked that the quality of the picture, I hesitated - 'is this really how I want to remember them?'  The pictures don't do the children justice and the lighting, the quality - everything about the picture is wrong.  But, it IS a picture nonetheless and someday I will hopefully not regret posting this one and waiting for the 'perfect' picture to come along. 

So for this week, this is the family update.  A bad picture.  A regretful mother.  And hopefully four little ones who will grow up and just be glad a picture was taken.  (Now if I could just figure out how to put pictures from my phone on here - they are better than my old digital camera.)

I'm sorry children.

Update

Tonight we are coming off of Spring Break for Hadley & Vincent as well as General Conference yesterday & today.  Hadley best expressed how I was feeling too tonight when she was in tears and missing the weekend, the fun & family when we came home from Chino tonight.  Hadley reminds me so much of myself when I was young, how deeply she feels the Spirit - but I don't know that I ever identified it to be the Spirit.  Something I hope that I help her to articulate at a young age is that she is feeling the Spirit.  And that it is a good thing.  It is a good feeling to have.  It wasn't until I was much older that I recognized why and what was making me feel that way.  For this reason I try to tuck the kids into bed with the question "did you feel the Spirit today?"  I want for them so badly to feel it and to identify and know when they are feeling the Spirit and desire it for the rest of their lives.

So back we go into the swing of things - or back 'into the world' to try and not be 'of the world'.  Tonight I quoted the phrase to Hadley: I'm Mormon.  I know it.  I love it.  I live it.  This week now we have to go 'live it'.

We spent the afternoon session on general conference in Chino, as we almost always have done.  Vincent had a wonderful time playing baseball pretty much the entire time with his cousins.  I felt sorry for the girls who can't seem to find a place there amongst us all.  Hopefully having baby Lincoln around in the next few years will help and make it more fun for them after he is born.

My Son

Vincent still holds my hand.  It warms my heart so much to know this.  Yesterday Molly took the three girls to Upland with her so they would not have to endure yet another baseball game.  The rest of the day was great fun as I got to spend a lot of one-on-one time with Vincent.  I hope to always remember this day and to make memories like this with each of my children.

Chris and I went to Vincent's baseball game.  He played great, as usual.  My favorite part is how Vincent wears his batting glove tucked into his back pocket like the pros.  Chris had to leave early so I sat and enjoyed the second half by myself.  After his game we watched a majors-game and some of a single-A game together.  Just the two of us.  Then we went and had lunch together - ran into friends, the Kings, and chatted with them.  Then we went to buy some new shoes for Vincent.  He held my hand whenever I offered it throughout the day and it felt great to hold my son's hand so much before he turns 7 years old.  I am so glad he still doesn't mind.

After coming home and putting some things away we headed out to Upland to see and pick up the girls.  Vincent read a book so pridefully most of the ride there - which was fine because we had chatted so much during the day.  It was so much fun.

Update

The kids are all outside playing in the extreme wind we have been having since last night.  Soon they will have to come in and get ready for church.  I am loving this 11 am church these days!  The kids all play with each other the entire morning so well.

Hadley's finger surgery is beginning to heal although it looks somewhat swollen still.  The stitches are beginning to dissolve.  She stayed up late last night making up stories for me about language arts characters: consonant cat, vowel owl, punctuation panda - she is so imaginative and funny.  She told me a bedtime story while I actually fell asleep.

Vincent played his first Little League game of the season in the rookie division this year.  He had a double-play all by himself - caught a fly ball then tagged first base.  He seems to still love baseball and likes this year because it is more 'real'.

Lauren went skiing this year for her first time with daddy.  She loved it but it is never clear whether she genuinely likes something or because it is a rite of passage for her to be growing up and more like Hadley and Vincent.  She is excited to go again sometime soon.

Gentry has had a bad case of crabbiness it seems this past week.  Most likely due to waking early before Hadley and Vincent even leave for school.  She used to sleep in later than that.  Either way she is growing up.  Yesterday MJ came to cut hair and Gentry hid from her.  Literally hid so I looked all over the house for her and she wouldn't answer.  That was so unlike her as she is usually right by my side.  She was proud of having had her haircut afterwards though.

Chris starts a new job this Thursday with hopefully better flexibility and hours to give more time to the family.  He is finishing up work for his other job before then though but we'll hopefully get a "Fhe Disneyland" trip this week.

Update

Gentry gave me a pat and wave as she went off to Sunbeams today!  A breakthrough for our shy little one who barely attended nursery in the whole year and half she was of age.  Makes me sad to think I have no little ones in nursery and very glad at the same time.  I love that they all get to attend well-structured, unchaotic primary.

Lauren got to spend another eventful sleepover at grandma's house and spend the next day with grandma and then aunt Molly.  She has always been the most extroverted and excited to go - anywhere.  I love that I know she is alright.  (Whereas Gentry happily will wave goodbye to Lauren, but if you mention her going on a sleepover, she wants nothing of it.)

Vincent is kicking off Little League again this week - playing for the Tampa Bay Rays this year.  Several of the same teammates from last year and I am co-team mom again this year. 

Hadley had the most eventful week of all, I imagine.  A while back Chris and I noticed what we thought might be a callous on her left middle finger.  After watching it for sometime, I took her to the doctor who referred us to an orthopaedic surgeon who recommended surgery to remove the bone mass.  We jumped on doing it sooner than later - mostly to prevent her from being stressed and preoccupied about it.  Met surgeon on Tues, another on Wed, and surgery on Thursday.  She did it with flying colors - I was so proud of her, and happy that she was made drowsy and asleep for the worst parts of it.  Her entire hand (except for a thumb) and most of her forearm now in a cast for two weeks - school should be interesting, seeing as she is left-handed.  Tomorrow will tell!

Update

Disneyland disneyland disneyland!  We finally broke down and paid the exorbitant price for Disney passes a couple weeks ago - and I couldn't be happier.  I truly love going and visiting the place and exploring all the new places and shows to go to.  It helps that Molly got a pass as well.  We have spent the last two Friday nights there as a family and A.Molly.  It was a difficult decision but after deciding to pull Lauren from her preschool and then not finding another one that I like and realizing the cost per month was nearly the same as purchasing passes for the entire family for a year, we took the dive.  In the last few weeks since we've had them, I've taken the kids after school and just Gentry and Lauren before school let out.  It has always been great and I hope that the little ones remember our season of passes (mostly due to the fact that it is unlikely we will get them ever again.)