One of Those Days

Today was one of "those" days for one of my girls.  Just makes me want to wrap my arms around her and tell her what an amazing, sweet daughter she is.   Because in all honesty, sometimes I want to be her.  I think if I'd have known her as a kid, she would have been my hero.  I would have wanted her to be my friend.

I certainly experienced my fair share of bad days when I was in jr. high and high school.  There was the time I made the cake that tasted like meatloaf and I was convinced that I was bad at everything.  Or how about when I got such bad grades I got kicked out of my honors classes?  And of course there were lots of bad days associated with boys.

Some days are just like that.  If anything, they have helped me to have a little bit of compassion.  I think one of my most endearing moments with my mom is when I was in High School and had an especially bad day, and she understood.  And I knew that no matter what, she would be there for me when I needed someone to talk to.

4 months old!

Four Months!

Weight: 14 lbs. 2 oz.

Length: 26 inches

Favorite Song: Eensy Weensy Spider

Favorite Show: Backyardigans

New skills: Sucking his thumb, drinking a bottle (insert halleleujah chorus), taking a binky, and reaching for toys, etc.

He loves sitting in the bumbo, playing with his brothers and sisters, and going for walks. He still loves the Baby Bjorn, but not the sling.

We are so, so happy we found a bottle he likes.  It is the Playtex nurser with brown fast flow nipple.   And he loves kids music.  So car rides have become a lot easier. 

He is very vocal and "talks" a lot.  Recently he started entertaining himself when he wakes up.  Instead of crying, he'll talk and coo.  It is so cute.  He likes to blow raspberries and he startles really easily.  When he gets scared he sticks out his little lower lip and makes the cutest pouty face.  We all love it.

We've heard the mad cry now too.  A couple of weeks ago, I started hearing a cry that was really different.  Instead of being all helpless and sweet, it was like he was screaming at me.  ; ) Awww.  Even that was cute.

Hulk and Fidget

Elise came home from hiking with a couple of new pets: Hulk and Fidget, a pair of horny toad lizards.

She found them on the trail, and I'm surprised she could even see them.  They like to bury themselves in mud or sand and wait for insects to come by.  They turned a little orange when they buried themselves in the red sand from the pet store.  They were originally the color of the dirt.  Hopefully their new hue won't make them an easy lunch for predators.

Simone and the other kids adored their little pets and would catch bugs and crickets for them until we finally decided these little guys were probably miserable and we decided to let them go.

Farewell little friends! 

5K and Glowbooth

These kids did great on their 2nd 5K.  Monet and Elise came in at just about the same time and took first and second place in the 9-13 year old division.  Miles and I ran together, and it was pretty painful.  Apparently I took 3rd, which means there were probably only 3 runners in my age group and gender.  : ) Simone did the one miler and finished strong.

I was fiddling with my Garmin at the start line, and when I looked up, Miles was gone.  He basically sprinted the first mile and was ahead of Elise and Monet even.  I was planning on pacing him, but I couldn't even catch up to him.  Poor kid was completely spent by the time I caught him.  He pretty much cried the rest of the way.  We took lots of walking breaks.  But he was inconsolable and wanted me to quit the race with him.  I told him he could walk if he wanted, but I was going to keep going.  He didn't like that idea.  Some people tried to give him encouragement and tell him he was "almost there" and he got mad.  "I'm NOT almost there!  I am still a long ways away!"

So funny.  The best part, is when after the race he wanted me to sign him up for another one!  Seriously?!
It was like childbirth.  You forget all about how hard it is when you see the baby, but in Miles's case, it was the trophies earned by his sisters.  He did win a really cool water bottle in the raffle though.

We'll definitely have to practice by running a mile or so at a good race pace.  The Cougar Run is coming up and I'd love to do it.  Next time I'll pace him better.  Although I think having mom there kinda ruins things sometimes.  He did so much better on his own.


Jared was not interested in doing the glow booth at the city festival this year.  But I thought it would be good for the kids.  So right after the 5K, we helped them set up the booth, and let them run the whole thing.  They earned money for their camps next year and had a blast.  Elise and Monet sold hair feathers during the day when the booth was really slow.  And I think Elise especially loved hanging out with her friends and earning money at the same time.  Here are a few of them with their super cool light sabers.

Afterwards, we counted the money and put everything into envelopes for their savings, tithing, camps, etc.  I think we'll definitely have to make a tradition out of that one too.  I think it is so good for them.

After the fireworks I came back and helped them break down the tent and booth.  I think we were all very impressed that we did not need Jared's help.  And he was happy to have a little break after a long work trip to Texas.

Pity Party

Remember how I'm already losing my hearing and I felt that at least some consolation is I can get lasik and at least have great vision?  Well, no lasik for me.  The doctor said I'd need cornea transplants if anyone ever took a laser to my eyes.  I have Keratoconus.  Apparently it runs in families?  So hopefully my girls won't have it too.  Poor Jared.  When I'm both deaf and blind, he may have his hands full.  ; )  Actually, my hearing doesn't really bother me (no more vertigo episodes since pregnancy) and neither does my vision.  I just squint a lot and was hoping to correct that without having to wear glasses all the time.

Family Pictures

It has been awhile since the last time we did family pictures.  I probably wouldn't have chosen three months postpartum to do family pictures either.  But Megan was coming to town and doing a fundraiser for her adoption of her two girls from China.  I LOVE how they turned out!  How did she skillfully make me look about half the size I really am?  Thank you Megan. We love them!

Megan is coming back in town next month and has 1 more sitting available in Utah.  She has an auction fundraiser going on right now here  where you can bid on it.

Getting Ready for School

Today I am thinking about Elise heading off to Jr High tomorrow, and my three kids starting at a new school on Tuesday, and wondering what I can do to help prepare them.

It is awfully intimidating to start the school year in a brand new place.  I know because I went to four elementary schools.  Starting mid-year was no problem.  You were the new kid and everyone wanted to sit by you and the teacher made a big deal out of everyone being welcoming.  But the hardest day was starting sixth grade.

I didn't want to change schools at that age.  But because the teacher I got wasn't very good at the old school, and my mom was now teaching at a very good school with a great sixth grade team I transferred. That first day of sixth grade, I made it to the door of my classroom, peered inside and found I didn't know anyone and promptly ran back down the hall to my mom's Kindergarten classroom and cried.

A few years ago when we moved and our kids started at a new elementary school, they faced that same daunting feeling.  On the first day, Elise met a friend who was also brand new and an old pro at starting new schools.  Her mom had told her to find someone else who was also new, and make friends.  Now Skye and Elise are great friends.

So I think tonight we'll talk about courage.  And about looking outward and thinking about others.  We'll memorize 2 Timothy 1:7, and then we'll make sure we set up some playdates.

I am really excited for all of them and they have great teachers.  I think they will be just fine.

For Miles who is totally impatient with having to get dressed in matching clothes, or comb his hair, we are taking pictures of him in all his "outfits" and hanging them on his closet door so he can figure out things that match.  If that doesn't work, I'll try putting his outfits together in a sweater storage thingy like this:
http://www.amazon.com/HANGING-SWEATER-CLOSET-CLOTHING-ORGANIZER/dp/B000LZ7KRA

Monet is really excited about making cute and yummy lunches this year.  Monet likes to look at Pinterest with me.  We actually do a lot of the ideas that they have.  Simone and Monet loved these lunch ideas:
http://easylunchboxes.smugmug.com/The-Best-Lunchbox-System/Yummy-Lunch-Ideas/10136835_YSuyb

They particularly liked the Bento like creations.  So cute and creative!

Here is Elise on Friday.  She was doing the dishes (and watching Backyardigans lol) after practicing hairstyles and trying on some of her school clothes.  So pretty.