Today in Sacrament meeting Lauren was curious about people getting up and bearing their testimonies. After watching a few members share their testimonies and a reminder from me on what a testimony was she confidently went up to the stand. She had to wait for another speaker to finish - which took longer than I would have liked. I was nervous she would lose her nerve and come back down. But she stayed up there and took her turn. Her testimony was small and simple 'Heavenly Father loves us all and He is nice'. -- Wow, I know for certain I was not doing that at age 5. It wasn't written, she needed no help and didn't ask for me to accompany her.
Unfortunately Chris missed Sacrament meeting due to waiting for a plumber to arrive at the house and fix a sink problem that had been plaguing the kitchen all weekend long. Seems the projects and things to be done just keep adding up. On Saturday he and I both went and bought bougainvillea plants for the driveway and he planted several. I wish I could help him more with his tasks around the house - but 5 months pregnant, I'm getting around slower and slower these days.
Vincent is happy to be back into baseball. His little league team is the Chicago Cubs this year. I am anxious for the games to start. Practice keeps him away from us so much during the week.
Hadley and Vincent both started piano lessons a couple weeks ago. Someone was right when they said it takes more discipline for parents sometimes. I don't know that either of them love it, hopefully it will come with success in it but I feel it is a rite of passage. One that I never go to be a part of though and always wish I had.
Gentry continues to be my buddy. She is currently snuggled up with Hadley in her bed tonight sleeping. Usually she can convince Hadley to come to her bed. Lauren is happy to be no part of any of it. Those girls all have such different personalities.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Update
For some reason I seem to be getting worse and worse for updating instead of more regular. I think about it all the time but then by night time I am too exhausted to come sit in the office and do anything. I blame it on the new baby who is coming in May but making me awfully tired (not as sick-anymore).
Christmas season is upon us. My most favorite time of the year. And yet, for some reason I struggle to try and recreate the magic for my own children that perhaps I feel was so much more real to me. My only answer is less television, less spontaneous treats like candy canes, really sitting down and enjoying the season together with them and trying to make it magical. It won't help that this week we are having somewhat of a mini heat wave. Temps in the 80's don't create that Christmas feeling.
Several weeks ago Hadley bravely sang a solo in the ward Primary program. It was really beautiful. When the primary leaders heard her sing they all told me how great it was and that she should sing in it. She volunteered to sing a solo and did it amazingly. Last week she performed in the Stake Creche children's choir and sang a duet. Unfortunately Chris and I were out tending a sick, very vomiting Lauren. At least all her grandparents got to hear it. She continues to swim although reluctantly. I imagine the cold weather doesn't help. She is always the peacemaker in the home and tries to be positive. Love that girl.
Vincent also performed with the stake choir. He enjoyed it, which I am glad. He misses spending as much time as he did in the summer with his cousins but when he is with them, we girls sure miss him here too. He is always up to something or wanting to be around me. He is loving playing games on the computer and such - but I'm afraid video games will not enter our household for some time still.
Lauren is as busy as usual being about everyone's business. She hasn't taken to Kindergarten the way I would have liked or expected but I know she is working hard at learning to read and won Author's Tea at the school for writing last month!
Gentry is enjoying a preschool-like center with me twice a week. Mostly for the fact that I go with her. She disdains school and talks about never going. She only likes to go places where I can go. Playdates are tricky unless her sister Lauren goes with her. Otherwise she has her best friend Caroline come to our house where they ignore Lauren. She does love going to preschool though and I know it is good for her.
Chris and I are staying busy trying to gear up and get a kitchen/bathroom renovation plan before the baby comes. I feel it is rather ambitious but we'll see what we can pull off!
Christmas season is upon us. My most favorite time of the year. And yet, for some reason I struggle to try and recreate the magic for my own children that perhaps I feel was so much more real to me. My only answer is less television, less spontaneous treats like candy canes, really sitting down and enjoying the season together with them and trying to make it magical. It won't help that this week we are having somewhat of a mini heat wave. Temps in the 80's don't create that Christmas feeling.
Several weeks ago Hadley bravely sang a solo in the ward Primary program. It was really beautiful. When the primary leaders heard her sing they all told me how great it was and that she should sing in it. She volunteered to sing a solo and did it amazingly. Last week she performed in the Stake Creche children's choir and sang a duet. Unfortunately Chris and I were out tending a sick, very vomiting Lauren. At least all her grandparents got to hear it. She continues to swim although reluctantly. I imagine the cold weather doesn't help. She is always the peacemaker in the home and tries to be positive. Love that girl.
Vincent also performed with the stake choir. He enjoyed it, which I am glad. He misses spending as much time as he did in the summer with his cousins but when he is with them, we girls sure miss him here too. He is always up to something or wanting to be around me. He is loving playing games on the computer and such - but I'm afraid video games will not enter our household for some time still.
Lauren is as busy as usual being about everyone's business. She hasn't taken to Kindergarten the way I would have liked or expected but I know she is working hard at learning to read and won Author's Tea at the school for writing last month!
Gentry is enjoying a preschool-like center with me twice a week. Mostly for the fact that I go with her. She disdains school and talks about never going. She only likes to go places where I can go. Playdates are tricky unless her sister Lauren goes with her. Otherwise she has her best friend Caroline come to our house where they ignore Lauren. She does love going to preschool though and I know it is good for her.
Chris and I are staying busy trying to gear up and get a kitchen/bathroom renovation plan before the baby comes. I feel it is rather ambitious but we'll see what we can pull off!
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Update
We enjoyed a beautiful Sunday today with rainy-like weather. It is atypical obviously here for in July but a welcome change from any heat. Yesterday Vincent, Lauren, Gentry & I went for a walk and it started raining. It was fun to just meander home in the rain. We came home, made hot cocoa & chocolate chip cookies and got ready to go to our Stake's Pioneer Day celebration.
Right now it is 9:50pm and I can still hear Hadley & Lauren giggling and talking while lying in Vincent's bed. Gentry went to sleep hours ago & Vincent is trying to fall asleep in our bed because he will be having a sleepover with his cousins in Chino tomorrow night. Those two girls have been laughing and being silly all evening but I love it. I know that Lauren welcomes any chance she can be a part or included with the big kids. And to have Hadley all to herself and the two of them enjoying themselves . . . I'm certainly not going to put an early stop to it!
This morning before church Hadley discovered that she was assigned to share a scripture and say the prayer in primary. She became so anxious and fretted about it that by the end of sacrament meeting she was in tears and inconsolable. I had a meeting and Chris was attempting to help her but had to leave for a moment to check on the other kids. When we turned to go back to her we saw a sweet young woman, Sarah Jensen, the bishop's daughter, sitting with Hadley and attempting to help her or give her comfort. I wrote Sarah a thank you note today for her Christ-like act in noticing someone in need and being confident in helping. I write this so I won't forget to share/remind Hadley of an amazing example of the type of young woman she can try to emulate.
The kids are excited to hear of our plans for our first real family vacation next month. Lake Mead with the cousins & Curtis and capped off with a trip to Utah to visit SLC and Provo among other places. I am looking forward as well, hoping no one gets sick and that the plans can go smoothly.
Right now it is 9:50pm and I can still hear Hadley & Lauren giggling and talking while lying in Vincent's bed. Gentry went to sleep hours ago & Vincent is trying to fall asleep in our bed because he will be having a sleepover with his cousins in Chino tomorrow night. Those two girls have been laughing and being silly all evening but I love it. I know that Lauren welcomes any chance she can be a part or included with the big kids. And to have Hadley all to herself and the two of them enjoying themselves . . . I'm certainly not going to put an early stop to it!
This morning before church Hadley discovered that she was assigned to share a scripture and say the prayer in primary. She became so anxious and fretted about it that by the end of sacrament meeting she was in tears and inconsolable. I had a meeting and Chris was attempting to help her but had to leave for a moment to check on the other kids. When we turned to go back to her we saw a sweet young woman, Sarah Jensen, the bishop's daughter, sitting with Hadley and attempting to help her or give her comfort. I wrote Sarah a thank you note today for her Christ-like act in noticing someone in need and being confident in helping. I write this so I won't forget to share/remind Hadley of an amazing example of the type of young woman she can try to emulate.
The kids are excited to hear of our plans for our first real family vacation next month. Lake Mead with the cousins & Curtis and capped off with a trip to Utah to visit SLC and Provo among other places. I am looking forward as well, hoping no one gets sick and that the plans can go smoothly.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Update
The Sawyers came to sacrament meeting with us and left right afterwards for mom's house. We had an awesome three days with them starting on the 4th of July. A lot of swimming, Ping-Pong, and a trip to San Diego as well. It was so fun to have cousins come and stay here with us for three nights to escape the AZ sun for some cool weather. After they left and we had to finish our church block - a few of us had a difficult time adjusting to the change 'back to normalcy.'
Vincent bore a beautiful testimony again today in sacrament meeting about how there was a kid at school who annoyed him and was always talking to him. One Sunday he came home and read a scripture about being nice to our neighbors. He read it over and over again and then he tried it at school the next day. He said it worked and was happy for that. What a sweet spirit he is!
Lauren has been in heaven having cousins all around to play with. She and Gentry had a great time playing wit Colton when the King's were here as well this week.
This next week starts our first one of 'real' summer as I call it because we have no obligations like swim lessons or anything. Gentry finished swim lessons last week and it is absolutely amazing what a little fish she is swimming around in the pool now! Hadley is missing Abby and wishing she could have stayed for longer. I had a great time hosting a family with 'sleepwalkers' and we all got a very good laugh.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Update
Gentry gave her first scripture & prayer in junior Primary today. It was very cute as I whispered the words to her and urged her to speak more into the microphone. She enjoyed it and seems to come out of her shell little by little. I mostly worry how she will do without her siblings, particularly Lauren there with her to encourage her or make her feel safe. Gentry & Lauren seem to have a bit of a love/hate relationship. I'm not quite sure Gentry realizes how much she relies on Lauren's outgoing personality or that she would do/try half the things she does if not for Lauren. Tonight Gentry begged to play a game on the computer - which I set up for her but Lauren immediately comes and begins to play the game 'for' Gentry bc she can't really do it. But Gentry is happy to have that help bc technically, she can't play it by herself.
Nine days left of the school year before three of my 4 children are in school. The summer will come all too quickly I'm sure but I hope to have a jump on plans and for using every day well and growing my relationship with each child. It will take more effort no doubt but well worth it.
Chris and I have be easing ourselves into talking to a business about renovating the kitchen. It sounds all so exciting and yet so daunting. As of now, we are going to continue our efforts in replacing the windows for the house and keep considering options for the kitchen.
Nine days left of the school year before three of my 4 children are in school. The summer will come all too quickly I'm sure but I hope to have a jump on plans and for using every day well and growing my relationship with each child. It will take more effort no doubt but well worth it.
Chris and I have be easing ourselves into talking to a business about renovating the kitchen. It sounds all so exciting and yet so daunting. As of now, we are going to continue our efforts in replacing the windows for the house and keep considering options for the kitchen.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Baseball Life Lessons
A week or so ago Vincent relayed the following to me:
He told about how at school he was shushing some of the other students to be quiet for the teacher. Then the teacher thanked the other kids for quieting down but did not thank him for doing the 'shushing.' He related this experience to being like hitting a sacrifice bunt play in baseball so another guy could advance bases . . .
Deep baseball-related thoughts for a 1st grader.
He told about how at school he was shushing some of the other students to be quiet for the teacher. Then the teacher thanked the other kids for quieting down but did not thank him for doing the 'shushing.' He related this experience to being like hitting a sacrifice bunt play in baseball so another guy could advance bases . . .
Deep baseball-related thoughts for a 1st grader.
Update
(took pictures - will try & update post when I figure out how to get them off phone camera)
Had a nice Mother's Day Sunday. It helped that I cleaned the house on Saturday evening so as to have a more relaxing morning. The kids & Chris were sweet but the morning still centered somewhat on getting ready for church. Got a pitch-fork-thingy from Chris for turning compost in our new composter - not entirely romantic - but very practical which is the way we like things (most of the time :)
We enjoyed a nice dinner over at Bryce & Sharon's house. Sylva and Curtis came. A nice walk after dessert felt great except for the mini heat wave we are having. Was 7pm and still hadn't cooled down quite enough. The kids played happily - Dallin & the girls out back playing make believe Swiss Family Robinson and Vincent with Landon & Wyatt playing ball on driveway.
Chris and Vincent had Father's and Sons campout this week. Vincent loves nothing better than getting out and being a real 'boy' with the other boys in the ward. Played a baseball game as a 'filler' for his old t-ball coach who was short players and caught three fly balls!
We girls went to downtown Orange on Saturday with Grandma & A.Molly to do some unsuccessful antiquing and toy shop, then lunch. The heat drained most of our energy so we ended early, caught the last bit of Vincent's game and came home and tried to keep cool.
Had a nice Mother's Day Sunday. It helped that I cleaned the house on Saturday evening so as to have a more relaxing morning. The kids & Chris were sweet but the morning still centered somewhat on getting ready for church. Got a pitch-fork-thingy from Chris for turning compost in our new composter - not entirely romantic - but very practical which is the way we like things (most of the time :)
We enjoyed a nice dinner over at Bryce & Sharon's house. Sylva and Curtis came. A nice walk after dessert felt great except for the mini heat wave we are having. Was 7pm and still hadn't cooled down quite enough. The kids played happily - Dallin & the girls out back playing make believe Swiss Family Robinson and Vincent with Landon & Wyatt playing ball on driveway.
Chris and Vincent had Father's and Sons campout this week. Vincent loves nothing better than getting out and being a real 'boy' with the other boys in the ward. Played a baseball game as a 'filler' for his old t-ball coach who was short players and caught three fly balls!
We girls went to downtown Orange on Saturday with Grandma & A.Molly to do some unsuccessful antiquing and toy shop, then lunch. The heat drained most of our energy so we ended early, caught the last bit of Vincent's game and came home and tried to keep cool.
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