Go Hop On Pop

I had the best time making this dress.  The pattern was so simple to follow, and well written.  I love how it turned out and so does Alyssa.  I made a skirt for Aubrey for Kindergarten “graduation” and Alyssa has been feeling a little left out.  Of course the whole thing had to be in pink for Alyssa, but I didn’t mind.  I of course know where all the mistakes are, and it was harder to gather through the apron on the dress than I thought it would have been, I would probably do a piece of yarn with a zig zag stitch over it for future projects, other than that it was a piece of cake.  FYI the pattern is Portabellopixie- Claire.

Monday morning the kids were up early and had all of their chores done by 7:30am.  We sat around for a while, watched  a little TV, but knowing that Danny was working late that night I decided to take the kids on an impromptu field trip.  Tanner packed fruit and water, Emma got the girls into shoes, and I quickly showered.  The drive to Grimes Point was pleasant, and the kids anxiously chatted, I didn’t tell them where we were going.  We had the place to ourselves.  The hiking was easy and everyone was able to do it.  I worried about taking 5 kids out by myself.  Last summer Hallie was a newborn, and I had 4 pair of eyes starring at me a week after she was born, asking me what we were going to do that summer.  I tried to pull off a decent summer, made quite a few trips to Tahoe, but really felt pretty overwhelmed the entire time.  This summer with Hallie a year older I’m feeling quite a bit more confident, and Monday proved to me that it could be done with little effort.  After the hike, we went to a park, and played hard.  They had this round rock structure that looked just like a castle (in Alyssa’s eyes) it wasn’t part of the playground, but that didn’t matter.  So Tanner was the dragon and Alyssa and Aubrey the princesses of course, and they ran around the trying to keep Tanner from climbing the sides and attacking the castle.  Somehow I even got involved and helped the girls spot Tanner as he quietly ran around the wall trying to find a week spot.  We stopped at Wal Mart and picked up some ice cream and cones for FHE, and met Dad at home for FHE and treat.  I’m feeling really confident now and can’t wait to do more activities with the kids.

We also hiked to 4 different caves.  The kids were having fun imagining where the Indians slept, cooked.  Aubrey said let’s put the TV over here and computer over there, I had to remind her that those things didn’t exist.

Let’s review:

May 2008– Hope Valley

We have camped in Hope Valley  for many years, usually on Memorial Day, and all but one year in my memory we were snowed on.  This time we waited until Mid June, although no snow, we froze.  The wind was so bizarre.  It would sound like a semi was roaring it’s engines and we knew to brace ourselves, not 5 seconds later the wind would blow through and the tent would just about collapse.  This happened every 10 minutes or so ALL NIGHT LONG.  I’ve never experienced such odd wind gusts, and I got very little sleep.  The temperatures were in the mid 30’s that night, and although prepared for the weather, we still froze, I should say I froze, the kids slept just fine.  I was a party pooper and convinced Danny to pack up in the morning and head for home, it just wasn’t any fun for me, the kids seemed to find fun even in the cold and wind.  We’ll try it again in a few weeks, maybe it’ll be warmer by then.  It is a beautiful place and we were just about alone up there.  We had the meadow to ourselves, and kids loved playing soccer in the flowers, and Alyssa picked a few and would say, “just one more” which turned into a couple dozen more.

The end of the school year brings a lot of excitement, I know I’m feeling excited to have my kids back at home, and I’m attempting to put together some fun things for us to do this summer.  Aubrey finished her first year of school.  It was a class of 30 kids, and I think she might have had more attention at home, but Kindergarten is a right of passage, and she had a fun year.  She’s a good little girl, and we love her so much, but I’m happy that I have her home with me again for a few months.  Tanner had the end of the year talent show, and he played the piano for it.  He was nervous, I don’t see him nervous very often, but he did great.  After he was done, he told me that he just pretended that he was at home practicing, and that is how he made it through.  I love it when they find ways to solve their problems, and take care of things.  He’s growing into a fabulous young man.  Emma finished her first year of middle school.  I have heard such horrible things about this age, and I don’t have the fondest of memories in my own life of this stage in life, but Emma’s handling it well.  She has loved her teachers this year, and they seem to be equally as fond of her.  I don’t remember bonding with my teachers in middle school, but Emma talks with her teachers all the time, and enjoys being with them.  She was accepted into the Nation Junior Honors Society, I think that is what it’s called.  I’m not sure what it entails, but we had some sort of a candle lighting ceremony, it seemed like a big production for something I thought was not very big.  So I’m hoping that we haven’t committed to something we aren’t prepared to commit to.  One of those Mom moments where I was caught off guard when I showed up to the meeting.  Sometimes I’m in over my head (shhh don’t tell anyone).  Tomorrow is the last day of school and I’m looking forward to some lazy days sitting on the beach at Tahoe.

One year ago today my little Hallie was born.  Hallie is an absolute joy, she is content, sweet, and a happy baby.  the kids love her, dote on her, and give her more attention than one baby could possibly handle.  We didn’t know that we wanted another baby, but I guess she did, and we are so thankful for her spirit here in our family.

Hallie can say:

Nanner (Tanner)

Aubrey

Emma

Jazzy

Mama

Dada

Wawa (water)

Ball

No No No (it comes in threes)

Hi

Can you tell I had a little helper in the kitchen today.  I’m pretty sure I’ll miss seeing little foot prints in the flour someday…

Look at that face, Scary

Hallie has figured out that she can walk with the help of the dolly stroller.  We had to weight it down with a book in the basket under the stroller so that it wouldn’t tip over.  She couldn’t stop laughing, she can taste freedom, and is determined to get this figured out.  There is a part of me that says STOP, but I love to watch her learn and grow, and I’m excited for her.  Go Hallie!

It snowed this weekend (lightly).  Doesn’t really surprise me.  I can’t tell you how many times we have gone camping for Memorial Day to wake up with our tent covered in snow.  We took advantage of the unfortunate weather and headed to the zoo.  Yes, you read that right, we went to the zoo in the snow. (kind of a zoo– click here) We had a blast.  There was maybe 2 other groups there, and we had the place to ourselves.  We even sat outside and had a picnic in the snow.  The bears were all up and active, and the large cats too.  I brought the camera, but  my hands were pretty busy trying to keep Hallie warm, so I didn’t take many pictures.

Saturday morning begins early around our house, not unlike any other morning really.  Out side we went after dad made a kid favorite breakfast of camels eye.  Weed picking and back yard clean up was on the list of things to be done.  Everyone worked really hard, and most of the weeds were pulled, lawns mowed, sprinklers fixed, old broken toys, chairs taken to the trash.  Then the kids ran through the sprinklers, and it was still morning.  I remembered something I had read in the paper the day before, and since the chores were done, we headed to a near by town for a Fly In.  I had read in the paper that they were giving free plane rides to kids, and I warned the kids that they would not be going up in a plane, but when we got there, I changed my mind.  It was only for kids older than 8 and younger than 17.  The program is sponsored by Harrison Ford, which made Tanner’s Day, I guess he plays in Star Wars or something.  The pilot was so nice and friendly, and the kids had so much fun.  I guess he turned the plane on it’s side for them, flew them out over a nearby lake, and just took them for a joy ride.  The purpose of the program is to open the kids eyes to careers in aviation.  Tanner’s eyes are open!  He has airplane on the brain.  I love watching the kids find so much joy in life.

Aubrey and Alyssa enjoyed watching all the planes land and take off right next to them.  They just let us walk around on the run way, it was a little crazy, a plane would start up and we’d look to see which one, and step out of it’s way, but it was all happening right there.  They had a few helicopters taking off also, so much to see, and touch, best of all it was FREE!  I love that kind of fun!

They flipped a coin to see who got to ride as co-pilot, Emma won.

Safe, on the ground, to tell you the truth I was relieved to see them.

It has not been one of my better weeks.  I went to the doctor last Thursday, just for some routine things, and she said you have a sore throat you just don’t know it yet.  Sure enough I woke up the next day with a sore throat and a cold.  It only got worse and Danny was headed out of town.  Then I had a dentist appointment, and she said that I needed a root canal, and sure enough I woke the next morning with a tooth ache.  I ended up sick and with a tooth ache, and Danny out of town.  It was not one of my better weeks with my kids, of course they all had places to be and things that needed to be done, and I didn’t feel like doing any of it. I’m feeling better and I am on antibiotics for my tooth, with a root canal scheduled for next week.  I told Danny for mother’s day he was buying me an $800 crown, somehow I don’t feel like much of a queen.

Mother’s Day as always was delightful.  With Danny everyday is Mother’s Day so I didn’t really notice a huge change.  The kids were all sweet even though the week before I wasn’t a very nice person.  They all had sweet cards, with sweet messages for me.  Danny got up with the kids and made me my favorite, crepes stuffed with sweetened whipped cream cheese and fresh strawberries.  Alyssa being the little mama that she is demanded breakfast in bed also.  Danny being the gentleman that he is brought her breakfast in bed.  The picture cracks me up, she obviously doesn’t appreciate my choice of breakfast.

I’m primary chorister, and the Sister who plays the piano wanted for Mother’s Day to not have to play in sacrament meeting.  So she asked her husband to play the song the kids were singing, and then he asked Danny to lead for me.  So that is how it went down.  It was a sweet little service that our men did for us.  Thank You honey for being a good sport.

A few pictures from the activities that continue to go on even when Mom is sick…

Here is one of those assignments that are given to torture the parents.  Emma had to make a diagram of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the entire range, and label all cities, rivers, landmarks etc…  We worked on this for weeks.  The instructions said that we could use any medium, I wanted to use mashed potatoes and gravy, I was voted down by Emma, so I made up some salt dough, and we glued sand on top to look like the desert and painted the rest.  It turned out great, I think, let’s hope the teacher agrees.

Wednesday we had the Activity Day year in review.  (I think that is what it’s called).  Anyway, Emma played I Feel My Savior Love on the flute, along with open and closing song on the piano.  She was a nervous wreck, I was sick, and wasn’t very compassionate about her nervousness, sigh…  She did really well, and I was proud of her being able to push past her fears and do it even though her mother wasn’t saying or doing the right things that night.

And not to leave Tanner out, he stayed out of my way, and helped me with the little girls by engaging them in Lego building events.  Here is his ultra fast police car, that no one would be able to out run.  Tanner was a lot of help this week, as was Emma.

I had an insane week.  3 dentist appointments, 1 doctor appointment, 1 track meet, child swap on Monday, car pool all week, field trip for Tanner, primary activity and a book club meeting.  I thought I can’t fit one more thing in and almost dropped the book club meeting just to find a few minutes peace.  I am so glad that I didn’t.  I wish that I’d had a camera with me.  We read Little Women, wow, it’s been a long time since I have read that book.  I can’t believe how different it is reading it as an adult over being a child.  Anyway, let’s move on to the fun part.  There were 4 of us there, and we sipped fruit tea in fancy tea cups, they were so fun.  Almost makes me want to run to Goodwill and find some cute tea cups and saucers and have a tea party with my girls.    The Sister who hosted it made blancmange with raspberry sauce.  This is the treat that Jo brings over to Laurie when they first meet.  It was so yummy, and of course we had chocolate cake with it.  We sat and chatted, and giggled, and for a moment there, I almost let my guard down and was a child again.  I left feeling happy, chatty, and content.  What a wonderful, kid free evening we had.  Now the pressure is on, book group is at my house this month and we are reading To Kill a Mockingbird.  Anyone is invited to join us in our reading, you can check out the blog at daytonclassics.blogspot.com