The Whole Oxygen Mask Thing...

Dave and I were invited to the most Spectacular Birthday Party EVER! :)  My Dad turned 70 and Bev threw him an amazing party.  All of his children and spouses were invited to go on a Cruise with them.  What an amazingly generous gift we all got for his birthday!  

We were so excited. But, we have 5 kids.  How do we do this?  Oh yeah, Dave's amazing parents! They flew out and spent 8 exhausting days with our kids. The kids had an amazing time with them. There wasn't a single minute of our vacation that I felt nervous or worried about the kids. I knew they were in competent and LOVING hands.  Every time we called we heard laughter. :)  It was such a blessing that they were willing to come and do this for us. 

Our first stop was Sally and Jason's house.  The Peel family went to church and Dave and I napped. And nobody woke us up. It was Awesome!  (Our flight left Philly at 6 so we had a very short night!)  We enjoyed Halloween  California style and loved watching their kids flitting around the yards handing out candy. They have such wonderful kids and it was so fun to see Sally and Jason.    The next day we went to see Dave's Grandma Steimle.  She is such a sweet lady.  We got to see her new place and eat lunch in her dining room. (Couldn't help but notice the 45 different varities of walkers!)  You can tell that everybody loves her!  Every time we get to be with her feels like such a treat. She is such a positive cheerful lady. 

Then Sally drove us to our ship.  When we got to our room we had an invitation for the official Birthday Kick Off Party!  It was such a total JOY to see my siblings.  I haven't seen Will in almost 2 years, Jenny & Eric, and Amy & Chad it has been 4.  We saw Angela and David 4 years ago and Heaven knows when we saw Joel last. Plus, we were able to meet his darling new wife Alicia.  I kept crying.  It was just so fun to be in a room with all these amazing people!  

Jenny worked really hard to create a memory book for Dad. It was beautifully done.  We enjoyed Pumpkin Pie, (Dad's favorite!) and watched the sunset and the land disappear.

The next morning... Wait. I have to tell you how cool it was to sleep in.  It has been nearly 12 years since we actually slept in last. (well, at least me ;))  Even though Dave and I were not accustomed to Pacific Time and woke up at 5:30, it felt like we had slept forever!  What a treat!  The next day we spent on Catalina Island.  It was so nice to just wander around together.  My pictures are severely lacking in Joel & Alicia and Bev & Angela... I think because they ditched us and our GPS tour for shopping. :)  We ate a wonderful meal (probably my favorite of the whole trip) and laughed and had fun.

The next day was spent in Ensenada, Mexico. We had a great time shopping and being touristy at La Bufadora.  La Bufadora is one of the biggest blow holes in the world and was really really cool. Water shoots out of this little under ground cave (or something like that... I need to learn more.)  My favorite part was when we were posing for a family picture and we had our backs to it and we all got soaked. Awesome! 

The next day (are you tired of this trip yet? Tough. I'm not. It was awesome!)  We spent the day on the ship.  We played mini golf, read, relaxed, did music trivia with the cruise director and played shuffle board on the Lido Deck. :)  Really, it was so fun just to hang out together and get to know each other again. I have an amazing family.   Plus, we all wore matching cruise shirts and people asked us for directions and what time the black jack tournament started.

 Our last day of vacation was spent in Disneyland. Holy Cow! It was so much fun!  We had a great time going at our own pace, doing fun rides our little ones would hate (Space Mountain! I LOVE Space Mountain!)  We got soaked on Splash Mountain and loved the fantastic fireworks. It was so hard to say goodbye to everyone and head back to our hotel. So hard.  I was really weepy. I think mostly because I had anticipated this trip and spending time together, and it was Over! :( 

When we came home I realized why they tell you on the plane to put your own oxygen mask on first before helping people around you (your kids).  If you can't breathe you aren't of any use to anyone.  This trip kind of felt like a giant dose of oxygen. We both came home feeling so refreshed and like our marriage was fresh. I had no idea how much Dave and I needed time together.   It was hard to be away from our kids, but it was GLORIOUS to spend time together and relax without the pressure of day to day life!  A million thanks to Dad and Bev, and Linda and Alan who made it possible! 

The Jenny Nicholas, 34 days till Christmas Concert Extravaganza.

Tonight our children put on a concert for us, complete with programs, signage, a band, and autograph pages.  Jane was Jenny Nicholas. It was awesome.  I just love how my children do things like this... it takes me waaay back to when I was little and we put on "shows" for our family. :) 

Lily was "Samalina".  She is something else.   I am not sure where she gets this stuff, but goodness, Dave and I just can't keep a straight face.  This photo is from the first day of school,  I asked her if I could take her picture. She struck this pose and her teacher said out loud (I think she might not have realized it wasn't just in her head.)  "Oh My."  :) 

Turkey Point Lighthouse

Turkey Point Lighthouse was on our Summer Fun List and we just kept putting it off. Ok, I kept putting it off. 
I'd never been there so I didnt' know what to expect, and with 5 kids, I need to know what to expect--- the kids are unpredictable enough!  Anyway, in late August we took a Saturday afternoon and went on an adventure. 
Henry is under that big blue hat. I didn't dare let go of his sweaty little hand while I snapped the picture!


The "hike" from the parking lot to the lighthouse is .8 miles.  Not so bad, but it was really hot and humid. When we finally reached the lighthouse we were permitted to climb the beautiful spiral (and really scary) staircase up to a ladder, then we were in that top little room. I'm pretty sure it was 200* in that lovely little room. We quickly said, "yep, that is a view alright!" and then tried to get down. It took some coaxing to get Lily to go down the ladder but Michael was a rockstar helper and we made it down in 6 very sweaty pieces.
 Henry is 3 feet off the ground and it was a rocky trail. Do you remember what little boys do when they see rocks? They pick them up of course! Every blessed rock!  It took us forever!  :) On the other hand,  when you hike with a 2 and 4 year old, you notice all the things on the ground, even under the bushes that you'd never have seen.  On the way up to the lighthouse we were astonished by how many butterflies we saw.  On the way back it had tripled. They were EVERYWHERE.  I actually noticed a guy tallying them and stopped and picked his brain about butterflies. I guess Elk Neck state park has an amazing butterfly population and we were there on the peek day of the summer, this gentleman was a huge butterfly guy and said he had never seen so many in all his years. It was amazing!  I think our favorite was the zebra swallowtail.

It is hard to tell, but under the edge of that bush we saw probably 25 little tiny butterflies! It was so cool. Like I said, hiking with a toddler gives you a whole new vantage point. :)

Because I've never had an original thought...

Here are links for the October crafts.  I made the cute jars with the kids last year, they were so fun and easy. It was fun to pull them out this year and hear the kids telling which was theirs. I love when they have ownership in a project like that!  I made them at the kitchen table with my 5 kids and 3 extra kiddos all 10 and under-- so they must be easy! :)  Here is the link.  Oh wait, she just shows pictures, no directions!  Oops. Her pictures are fun though.  You simply modge podge strips of tissue paper to the outside of a jar. It is fine if it isn't perfect, ours have bumps bubbles and even a tear or two.  After it is dry you modge podge the face on.  I will say they could probably use a coat of some varnish type something, they were a bit sticky this year when I pulled them out of storage.

The rolled flowers are all over, and mine aren't the cutest, but the girls were happy with them and they'll be worn plenty this month! Is there any other time of year you wear orange and black? Here is a link for how to make them.

Hooray for October!

 Hooray for creating new hair thingies!  I realized last night how much I enjoy making things!

 And Hooray for pulling out decorations we made last year!  I just love these- everytime I do dishes I feel happy!  (Pictures are from last year our leaves haven't turned yet.)

I love October!

5 senses

I Hear:

• beautiful soothing music on the stereo,
  
• Green Eggs and Ham, read by Dave to Lily and Henry
• Michael, Jane and Eve laughing and drawing

I Smell:

• Carrot Cake baking
• Cream Cheese frosting mixing

I See:

• Halloween decorations that make me smile
• Kids dressed in matching red yellow and blue church clothes
• Gloomy skies

I Taste:

• Just a touch of frosting... to see if it is just right ;)

I Feel:

• A cool breeze from the kitchen window and a warm draft from the oven
• Totally and Completely Content.

Oh that every afternoon could feel like a Sunday afternoon.


I miss blogging. I'm coming back. Watch out google reader here I come. :)

Belated Trip Report

Last night I lectured Michael about not keeping up with his journal and writing important things down as they happen.

Hello hypocrite mom.

So, here I go. This is a marathon photo post from our trip to upstate New York and Niagara Falls, Canada.

Our first stop (after the 3 bathroom stops, gas stop, etc.) was in Harmony, PA. This is the sight recorded were the Aaronic Priesthood was restored to the earth. It was cool to be there and talk with Michael about what that means, especially as he will turn 12 this year. It was a beautiful location along the Susquehanna Rover next to a very old cemetery where Emma Smith's parents were buried and Emma and Joseph buried an infant son. Henry wasn't into posing... he more likes the action shots. But look at his expression, couldn't you just eat him up???


Next we headed towards Palmyra New York. The drive was incredibly beautiful, rolling hills and green green green. We caught up with Aunt Emily and Uncle Joe and sweet Ruby and Joey. Then we went to the Sacred Grove. I would like to share what an amazing experience it was to be there, in the grove... but really, it was just a lovely walk and a tough balance of letting kids be kids in the woods and remembering we were on sacred ground. We'll have to go back someday when we have time to ponder rather than parent. :) I loved going through the Joseph Smith Sr. home and picturing all those big bodies in such a cozy cabin. I also loved seeing the places we know Joseph Smith hid the golden plates from the mobs. Imagine what tense days those were!


After the grove we ran to Subway for dinner then over to the Hill Cumorah pageant. It was an awesome feeling to be in a place with something like 8,000 people who were interested in the stories found in the Book of Mormon. The pageant was amazing, I'm so glad we went. The cast is incredible too.

Things I don't want to forget: How amazing it is that cousins pick up where they left off... no warm up time, just love and fun. Henry, pointing and shouting "bad guys!" and " Fire!" A lot. :) He enjoyed the show till he climbed up on my lap and fell sound asleep. Lily snuggling on my lap and telling me about what was happening, she was really into it. Watching the wonder in Michael, Jane and Eve's faces. Seeing the tears stream down faces as the Savior makes his appearance and at the very end of the pageant. It was precious.
The next morning we visited the Grandin publishing house, then headed for Niagara. Dave told the kids they needed to talk like Canadians, saying "eh" after everything. I laughed so hard! They really caught on. Then, when we got there, he told them they needed to walk Canadian (same arm as leg) I almost fell over laughing at him and the kids walking like this down the street. It was hilarious to me... maybe I was rummy from so many hours in the car?
Maid of the Mist!




So, putting plastic bags on sweaty bodies in the wind is hard. :) We also had been told to pull them tight around the kids faces so they didn't get soaked... this was bad advicewe quickly loosened things up. (probably given by someone who went when it was cold outside, or with kids who were really frightened by the whole thing...) and It was way cooler to feel the wind and water all around you. It was loud and windy and wet! It was really a fun experience. (once in a lifetime... next time we would go for the walk behind the falls!) It was fun to watch the kids faces, the falls are HUGE when you are on that tiny little boat rocking around at the base of them. So much water! You would think it would run out someday!

We parked way above the falls and so we did a LOT of walking, but it was so beautiful. Our kids were such great troopers. We stopped every few feet for another amazing photo op. The views on the Canadian side were incredible and our timing was perfect. We got there late afternoon and the sunlight was just right.



After walking and posing and walking and posing the only way to get Henry's attention was to show him Lightning McQueen cars from my purse... then he could have cared less where we were he just wanted to play. :) The kids sacked out almost the minute we buckled them in and we drove alllllllllllll the way back to Maryland. It was a crazy trip but I'm so glad we went. So many times over these days my heart felt so full. I have a strong testimony of the divinity of the Book of Mormon and it is a powerful experience to be where it all began. I also have such a special family. Watching my kids love and enjoy time together is the best thing on earth. (and Dave is a saint.)

Teaser.

Niagara Falls. We rode in that boat!
The Sacred Grove.

I thought maybe if I started a post I'd come back to it this afternoon. I have so many lovely pictures and memories of our quick trip!

Valley Forge

What do you know about General Von Steuben? We know that when he came to the "Rebel Army" they were sloppy and a bunch of "nose Pickers". He taught them to stand straight. I like this quote by Steuben: . You say to your soldier, ‘Do this,' and he doeth it, but I am obliged to say, 'This is the reason that you ought to do that,' and then he does it.”


This must have been a pretty old tree... think George and his fellow officers had a picnic here too?
Funny thing... as we were walking Eve saw the wheels of that cannon from far away and thought it was a bicycle. When it became clearly evident it was a cannon she became more convinced it was a bike. ;) Stubborn child. I think today she still calls it a bike. A cannon on a bike...
This chapel was so beautiful! So reverent and interesting. We loved the soldiers on the pews, no 2 were the same.

A day at Valley Forge was terrific. I love living where we can learn about American History and then go and see it. Our kids know a lot of interesting facts--- more than me. It is great to be taught by them.

I'm sure I'll have a minute to blog about Valley Forge, the end of school days, 5th grade promotion, my favorite CMES tradition and Father's day... but right now I'm busy heeding Ben Franklin's counsel.

If you need an Austin blog fix though, my kids are blogging at we-are-on-cloud-nine.blogspot.com. Entertaining (and educational, but shhh don't tell them they are writing, spelling, and thinking. ;))

Not quite right...

Michael is at his first scout campout tonight. As we knelt for family prayer it didn't feel quite right. Henry doesn't fall asleep very well if Michael isn't there, and neither do I. I hope it goes well... This afternoon I had a precious experience and shared with my Mom and sisters in law, but I wanted to post it here for journaling sake. :)
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In twenty minutes I need to go pick Michael from school. He is going on his first 11 year old scout camp out. This will be the first night in his life that Dave or I are not there. I feel trepidatious. (red squiggly line says that isn't a word, but it is how I feel)

I was snuggling with Henry while he fell asleep and I was praying that I would be able to prepare Michael. I was thinking how I need to remind him we don't play truth or dare. How if the other boys get inappropriate he knows what to do... My mind got full of all the things I need to cram in his head one last time.

Then, Henry starting snoring and I picked up my scriptures and opened to Mosiah 5, I finished Mosiah 4 in the Book of Mormon last night... but my eye went straight to the last 2 verses of that chapter, they say:
29 And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them.
30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.


And I got teary. Those verses didn't seem memorable last night, but suddenly I'd like to post that as a giant sign on every wall in our house. "O, Man, Remember and PERISH NOT!" I suppose M is ready for the world. As ready as he can be and needs to be for scout camp with good friends we trust. I can't tell him every scenario and role play them all out. But, we have taught him. I just love how sometimes God answers us so quickly and using his own words given to us by prophets.

(If you are not LDS and you happen to read this and are interested in learning more about the Book of Mormon, go Here, they'll send you a free copy and answer any questions you might throw their way. :))

Field Trip

Last week the kids and I played hooky on Friday and went field tripping instead of schooling. It was awesome.

First, we slept in. Lovely!

We went to the library armed with a list of Caldecott winning books. Michael, Jane and I found about 12 of them while Eve helped Lily and Henry to NOT destroy the children's room. ;)

The kids read books and talked about their favorite stories, favorite pictures and how they had been created all the way up to the Museum. Then, we went in the museum and saw many of the pictures we had just seen in books. It was really cool! The kids were interested in how the art work was done and what it takes to win a Caldecott. We learned a lot and all picked favorites. Mine was a non-Caldecott winner, the picture from Little Women... I love those heads all crowded around a book.

Don't you love my wild things with THE Wild Things? ;)

Then we wandered a lovely little path by the Brandywine River. It was peaceful and happy and I had that feeling you have when you love the moment you are in so much that you want to cry.

We also stopped along the way and had a picnic at the visitors center at the Battle of Brandywine. Do you remember that one? You don't? Me either. Michael did though. He recounted the whole event for us... Two amazing things here, 1. We live where driving along the road we see a sign for a Revolutionary war battle ground and 2. My son really is learning American History and can now picture exactly how that might have played out.

It was totally fun. I love skipping school!

New Specs for Lily K.

About 6 weeks ago we started noticing Lily's eyes turning in. My eyes are seriously crossed without correction so I was concerned and so was Dave. Our pediatrician however, was not. At all. She basically said I was off my rocker, but whatever. 24 hours later we visited a very nice eye doctor who was really good at dealing with REALLY nervous 4 year old girls, and he informed us that Yes, she really does need glasses. :) Lily picked out a pair of cute pinky purple specs, but was so sad that we didn't get to take them home that day!

So... Jane and I trot her off to the Dollar Store and Jane forked out $3 for 3 pairs of fancy reading glasses, one for each girl. (Isn't she a dear?) We popped out the prescription lenses and the girls were happy with their glasses! Lily didn't take hers off till the next week when we replaced them with her "real" ones. I can't count how many "Fancy Nancy" comments she got!I was feeling so smug. What a great idea this was! She practiced wearing glasses, (funny, she was so tickled with her "real" glasses because she could turn her head and jump without them falling off!) Then... she decided to pop the lens out of her real glasses... oops. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all. No worries, superglue saved the day. :)

One nice thing...

One of the many nice things about having "SO MANY" children is that when they are doing things that might be just a teensy bit annoying I can think "Oh, yeah, I remember when Michael was doing that when he was 9 and he doesn't bug me any more!" poor Michael. It took me a few years to figure this out, so I was probably overly hard on him about everything under the sun. I'm setting money aside for his counseling...

For example: I remember when my older kids were mastering their understanding of the English language... and figuring out how to turn it on me. This feels a little bit like arguing/sassing/looking for a mistake.... Like when you say "Go put on a cozy shirt it is going to be cold" and they come out dressed in a short sleeve shirt and say "You said I was going to be cold!!!" Or when you ask if they have brushed their teeth and they say "Yes." You question this and they say "Well, I brushed them yesterday, you didnt' ask if I'd brushed them just now!" This is very very "7" with my kids. I can ENJOY this annoying phase because I know it won't last.

Or, for example, when I walk into the bathroom and all of the towels are always totally and completely soaking wet. This is "4" at our house. Four is about learning and manipulating water. Pouring, soaking it up, squeezing it out... Won't it be nice when we can do water play outside? I can ENJOY this annoying phase because I know it won't last.

Or, another example, the toys spread from h#$% to Breakfast all. the. time. This is 2. Two's biggest job is moving stuff. Putting some things away even (if only we could find where he put my keys away for me!!!) Getting things out, moving them to a new location. I can ENJOY this annoying phase (just be careful where I step) because I know it won't last.

:) But, right now Henry and Lily are cuddling on the couch and she is reading him story after story and I should put them down for bed but--- I am ENJOYING this because I know it won't last forever either.

Brag, B-R-A-G, brag!

He is a winner. W-I-N-N-E-R, winner! :)

A Sappy Birthday Post. (belated!)

My boy Michael turns 11 today. ELEVEN! How did that happen? (ok, so actually that happened a few months ago and I just never got pictures added to post this! ack.)

It was different with one child! I spent all day everyday loving on him. Why set him down? Why not read the book 500 times. We walked and talked and looked and learned! He was squishy and sweet and gentle, even as a toddler. I'll never forget the look in his eye when he realized I loved Jane and that she was staying. I was changing her diaper and cooing at her and I looked up to see him staring at me. It wasn't sad or jealous, more like, "Oh. We love her. Ok!" He has been an incredible big brother ever since. Every child should have a big brother like Michael!

When Janey was just a baby Michael kissed her head-- in that sweet little spot where I'd stuck a honey bow. He then licked her head! He looked at me like "She's cute and she tastes good?!"

When Michael was about 3 he grabbed a handful of blossoms off a tree and shoved them in his mouth before I could stop him. He then spit them out and shrieked, "It isn't really so!" We think of that story a lot this time of year with the popcorn trees in full bloom :)

Michael is awesome. I wish you all knew him. He is sensitive, trustworthy, honest, and funny! Lately I've been enjoying his developing sense of humor. He and Dave were teasing me about taking one of my really nasty old pizza pans to the Antique Roadshow. He had such funny lines! It is fun to see him "becoming".

He is also really really smart. I have recently realized that when he tells me things that are totally new to me, I don't doubt what he is saying. Camels can hold 10 gallons of water? Ok. That is how that seldom told Old Testament story played out? Ok. A computer does blah blah blah... Ok. He has a fantastic memory too. Lucky boy! Michael will be competing this Saturday at the District Spelling Bee. His school Bee was INTENSE! All of the kids were terrific spellers, battling down with words like flamboyant, vacuum, recommend, exquisite, scholastically, kaleidoscope!!! More than once I thought "Dang, he's wrong! Well, he did awesome!" Just to have the judge say he'd gotten it right! Oops, I better step up my spelling practice.

He recently earned his Webelo and his Arrow of Light award, then crossed over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. It was fun and we felt so proud of him! Dad and Bev were here that night and it was so fun to watch him go from all those squirrelly young boys in blue shirts on one side to those tall, confident guys in brown shirts on the other side of the "bridge".
Last week he and I spent over an hour playing trombone/piano duets. I thought to myself "Hey, this "having kids grow up thing" might not be so bad..." Michael is wonderful. He is just the kind of boy you'd want as your first born, we are lucky to be his parents!

Spring

Every time I pull into our development I say "Oh! WOW! I love living here!" It is so pretty! These are taken while driving, but it was really safe because our street is empty and I was going super slow! ;)
This collage shows that while I might not cooperation for family posing shots, I get cooperation for letting Big Brother put shoes on. :) Can you tell how much personality Lily has?? What a child!

Tomorrow or the next day I'm going to blog all about Michael. Mom keeps telling me he is missing on my blog and she is right. He is awesome and I'm excited to post how amazing he is.

p.s. These pictures don't look very clear! I'm wondering if I can get the child *cough*Henry*cough* to undo what he did to my camera. they also are small. If you double click, then click on the picture it enlarges it more... so you can see how blurry they really are...

Today...

Today I:

• Listened while Dave explained to our children important doctrine we were reading in the Book of Mormon, all while they kids munched breakfast.
  
• Sat in the sunshine and read 4 chapters of a book with Janey while Lily and Henry dressed up in winter gear and stomped around the house on a mission.
  
• Sat in that same sunny spot with Henry and watched a robin dig for worms in our yard. We watched for about 10 minutes--- If only I could figure out a way to keep him still for 10 minutes during stake conference this weekend...
• Perfected my play dough roses.
• Shared my turkey sandwich with a little boy who hugged and kissed me between each bite.
• Listened to Jane and Lily play "best friends".
• Played a tedious game of race Doc Hudson back and forth with Lily-- but her laughing till she snorted and almost fell over was worth how lame the game was.
  
• built a very nice wall with blocks, knocking it down is the best part!
  

And it is only 12:47. Don't you wish you were me? If not me, don't you wish you were here with me? I do.

Popcorn Popping on Easter

We had a lovely Easter weekend. It was so nice to have lovely weather and happy kids. Yesterday we took the kids down to the Brandywine River and had a picnic. The weather was perfect and the blossoms were amazing. I made a really cute collage, but it keeps showing a blank pink canvas... so here are a bunch of pictures!




We were lucky! We sat by that river for about an hour and nobody fell in! :)



I don't think Dave was annoyed... but we do need to teach our budding photographers to get the job done a bit faster!








These trees were amazing. AMAZING! I love Spring in Delaware and Maryland! LOVE IT! :)