More Thoughts on Thanksgiving

I should have written my feelings about this vacation sooner, but it didn't happen so you get residual ones I guess. 

Going to Swanlake was just what me and my girls needed.  It was just nice to be there. The home that I was raised in and the home the Gaupo was raised in were very different because we had different lifestyles and parents. Neither, home is better than another and I am so glad that I feel comfortable in both. I am so grateful that Grandma loves to have us come visit even if we can't bring Gaupo for the whole thing. I love that Melanie and Aaron live close. It was a true joy to watch Blaine, James, Kylee, and Tia all play together day after day and all day long. It was fun to let them be and listen or see glimpses of what they were pretending to do. I love the unrestricted access to four-wheelers and beautiful places to go on them. It's true I really only go to the pond and back, but I could do more if I wasn't afraid of going somewhere I shouldn't and if I didn't always have a minimum of two kids with me whenever I went. But, the pond is beautiful and its an easy ride. The kids love it and I love being the cool aunt that will take them. 

Being in Swanlake in the what I call slow time is always nice. It is fun to visit with Grandpa because he is inside and it is easy to do when he is right there. Also, I got visit a lot with Aaron this time and that was really cool. I am continually amazed at his hunting passion, but also the passion he has for his family and life. Late Fall and winter life on the farm is just slower and lends itself to more playing and hanging around which naturally leads to visiting and better bonding. I love going to Swanlake in the summer too, but this time of year has its own special treats. 

I also love that Grandpa lives so close. I always wish there was more time to visit and be in Virginia too because its a special place for me. I love visiting with Grandpa-Great he is always so positive and loves us being there. He loves my girls and Gaupo. It is fun to visit with him, but the thing I miss most about not staying for awhile is exactly what I loved about sticking around Swanlake. I love chilling at my Grandpa's house. I love visiting, but I also love to sit in the office and watch tv. I love to sit around the table and visit all together after a meal. I don't even mind washing dishes by hand there because it gives us another opportunity to visit and just be. My Grandpa and the home he and my grandma created is a very special place filled with wonderful memories and love. So, love that Gaupo's family lives close, so that I can visit with Grandpa-Great even if most times I feel it is too short, because to be honest it would take a really long time for it to not feel that way.

Not only did I love this vacation, but my kids did too. They have always enjoyed Grandma's house, but you know it was good when they say...

• Kylee said the night before left: "Mom, I am not ready to leave."
• Tia said the morning we were leaving: "Mom, can we stay forever?"

These kids really had a great time. Kylee loved playing and I think Tia loved the freedom of the farm. She loves to play. She could watch cows, dig in the dirt, jump, swing, play on the four-wheelers, have tons of toys, go outside whenever, and cousins. I don't really know all that Tia loves about the farm, but it is made for her and she really struggles when we come home and there are fences, and rules again.

I feel so grateful to have such a wonderful place to go only 8.5 hours away. Some of you say "only," but considering it takes a lot long for other people and it takes me at least 13 to get to my house 8.5 is not bad. I am so grateful for places, and people that I love and feel comfortable around. I am truly on blessed girl.

Thanksgiving Vacation 2017

This vacation was awesome. It started sooner than I originally thought it would because my friend Bethany Blaine decided that she needed to get out of Longmont and offered to take me to Idaho if I was still willing. I talked with Gaupo and about and decided to go for it. It was a little bit crazy because I wasn't as prepared as I usually am. My house was left a little dirty, and I had to pack dirty clothes, but luckily for me Grandma has a washer and Gaupo got the house cleaned for me, so I don't have to clean right away. However, Bethany and I took off for Swanlake about 7:15 on Monday morning. We were both ready to go and it was fun to road trip together. I enjoyed talking to her. We talked about our families, our past, how we want to raise our kids, how and what we should go about trying to teach them and how. We talked about forgiveness and changing. I don't know when you are stuck in a car with someone you like for 8.5 hours you talk about a lot of stuff and it was great. The kids actually did really well. Calvin (Bethany's youngest) had the roughest time, but even he did pretty good for being only nine months old. Anyway, by the time we got to Grandma's house it was getting and then got dark real quick. Grandma was so excited to see everyone. She scooped up every kid in a hug including Jensen, which he totally loved. Jensen and Kylee had a blast playing with toys and I took Tia out to the cows. Just in case you don't know, Tia loves cows especially when they are being milked. She can sit in a milk barn and watch the milker milk for at least thirty minutes. Bethany was feeding Calvin, but on her way out to the car came into the barn, which actually turned out to be a bad thing because there was a calf who was struggling shivering and probably not going to make it. So, I didn't exactly know that and then I didn't really realize how traumatizing that could be. I guess I am just desensitized or something, but Bethany is not and it really wigged her out. She was already kind of struggling, but it kind of put her over. Anyway, I talked her into staying the night at least. So, I helped her with her kids, and then got kids ready for bed and then I think went to bed. Well, I didn't go right to sleep, but when everyone else went to there rooms I went to mine and read my scriptures a bit and enjoyed the quiet stillness of the country.

Monday morning dawned early. The kids got up early and I helped take care of Calvin and Jensen for a little while. We had a great breakfast and then played outside. We took Jensen on four-wheeler ride and then to look at the combine. I have no idea why, but of all the equipment that Grandpa has they are fascinated by the combines. They love the only one on the side of the hill and down by the pond, and they love the new one it the shed. They want to see them all the time and ask all kind of questions about them. It is so funny to me, but I guess I may be kind of like that with swathers. I think they are really the coolest piece of equipment.  After seeing the combines and other tractors, the kids played on a dirt hill creating a slide for themselves. They had a great time. Bethany felt kind of bad taking Jensen away from there, but they needed to head for their Grandma's house. The rest of Tuesday was filled with playing, eating, naps, talking, playing, and finished off with games. It was a marvelous day.

Much of our vacation was that playing, playing, eating, playing, napping, playing, eating, and sleeping. Gaupo joined us on Wednesday about 12:15. He left about four in the morning, so that he could spend as much time at home as he could. It was good to see him, and I think the girls take better naps because he is up there with them. Anyway, he came on Wednesday, and really it was just more of the same although we did prep for Thanksgiving by making pumpkin pie. Then we had a delicious soup for dinner. The kids spent the day playing and playing. Blaine, Kylee, Tia, and James just played and played with occasion four-wheeler rides and then at milking time at night I would take them outside for about an hour and we would watching milking and pet the calves, and swing on the swings. Also, on Wednesday I went down to Grandpa-Great's to visit him and Klaire. I never give myself enough time and then when my Uncle John showed up I definatly didn't have enough time. It was so good to be there and visit with them. I love visiting there. It is a lot like going home. 

Thursday was Thanksgiving. To be honest it wasn't too different than like a big Sunday meal, but you know we were with family and enjoyed a meal and visited and played games after the meal. For me Thanksgiving is for being around family and taking the time to play together and realize your blessings. So, it was just that. It was great to play and enjoy being together.

**I am now finishing this a week later than when I started. I had every intention of finishing it, but I got sick and just slept during naptime and watched movies at night. I wasn't up to it, so bear with me getting this thing done.

Friday was a big day. It started off with the normal stuff, but around 11:30AM Jeff and Heidi and their 5 kids arrived down in Swanlake and it was a party. We had pizza for lunch and then us Mom's pulled out a game, and we played one round, but the kids saw us and wanted to play games, so we played a couple rounds more without Grandma. She took pitty on her grandkids and helped them with some kid games. However, after just a couple rounds we took pitty on her and we also kind of needed to keep track of the other kids who weren't playing games. So, game time was over, but it was fun to games with Heidi again. So, while some kids played games inside I helped other kids play outside. We did all kinds of stuff. We took some kids up to the shop and looked at all Grandpa's equipment, we watched cows, swung on the swings, jumped on the tramp, played inside a little, watch Uncle Aaron mix feed, got tractor rides, and one crammed four-wheeler ride from said Uncle. Then they played closer to the house in the sandbox and swings and this tractor trike thing. We also went to the barn and watched a milking and got to pet a big cow. We pet calves often, but not usually the big ones, so that was fun. We did lots of stuff, we were in and out and playing. The kids played hard. They played from right after lunch till 5:15 when the Anderson's left. Then after dinner they played some more and we put some really tired kids to bed around 7 and then played some more games.

Blaine, James, Katelyn, Aaron, Kylee, and Tia all on a four-wheeler.

The women and children on Friday.

Saturday was more of the same, except Gaupo, Kylee, Tia and I headed to up to Viriginia around to visit Grandpa-Great and Aunt Klaire. When we got there Klaire was making cookies--great timing right. Grandpa wasn't there, but it was nice to visit with just Klaire for a while. Then Grandpa came and we all visited for a bit, but my girls managed to convince Klaire to take them out to the old calf sheds to look for cats, then play hide-and-seek outside. She is such a great Aunt to humor these girls of mine on such a cold night. After visiting we had a small dinner and headed out. As always, the visit was much to short, but really good. When we got back, the girls and I got in the hot tub and then took showers and the girls went to bed. We of course played more games. In case you are wondering the main games played this trip were Castle Panic, Ticket to Ride, Wacky6, Rummekub, and Pandemic. Then before it got super, super, super late we went to bed.

Sunday was an early day. We got up, and got out. We were a little behind what we wanted to be, but we still made it to Heidi and Jeff's church by 9:00. It was nice to be there with everyone. Gaupo got to participate in the blessing Hyrum, Jeff and Heidi's new baby. It was cool to visit there ward and go to church with them. Kylee went to class with Arlen and Tia went to class with Naomi. They both thought that was great. After church we went to the Anderson home and had pictures and then lunch. Then the kiddo's played. Well, actually Kylee was not feeling well, so after doing her best to play she and Gaupo took a nap, and then came and played more. Tia played and played and played. I bet that is why she is having a harder time getting over this sickness thing. Anyway, after Kylee woke up we stayed around until about 4ish and then headed out. I always enjoy going to Heidi and Jeff's house because there kids are so much more at home, so there is so much playing and fun. We got home and had dinner. We let the kids stay up for a little bit, but then sent them to bed and had one final night of games.

Monday morning we took off. We were afraid we were going to get caught in a storm, but we couldn't seem to get going. I was hoping to stop at Grandpa-Great's to say good-bye, but we had to go back to Swanlake from Downey to get doll's, blankets, and pillows (we also found out we left our swimsuits). So, by the time we visited for a minute and picked-up our meat and John and Karen's we really needed to go because it looked ominous. However, turns out it wasn't that bad. Oh well, you never know that is the problem. We made it home in okay time and managed to get all our Christmas decorations up and then went to bed. It was a kind of long crazy day, but oh so fun.

Blaine, Kylee, and Tia gathering "coconut seeds, so they can plant coconuts."

Tia with a calf sucking on her hand.

Tia and Blaine playing.

James, Tia, Kylee, and Blaine on the four-wheeler.

Kylee and Blaine playing in the house.

The Temple

About six months ago, our stake president challenged us to double our temple attendance. Well, Gaupo and I had already decided that we would got once a month which was almost tripling out attendance, so at first I decided that was good enough. That month I didn't get there twice, but the next month I think I managed to. Then I know I did in June, and that is when I decided that I thought I could do this. Well, I talked to Gaupo about it and said that I understood that once a month was really all he could probably do, but I thought I needed to go twice. I asked if he would support me in this goal, and he said yes. Well, now it is November and I love attending the temple even more than before. I love that I can go twice a month and often times get to do two different ordinances in the same month. I worried that with going to the temple "so" often that I wouldn't be able to take care of things here at home or that my children would be neglected or a host of things like that, but you know what none of that has happened. Sure, my family misses me sometimes, but not really they have a great time with Gaupo because he is such an awesome Dad. The Lord has covered all that needed to be covered to allow me to do this and I have been blessed because of it. The last couple of trips to the temple have been really cool and so I wanted to tell you about them.

The most recent one was last week. I really felt I need to invite my friend Bethany Blaine to come with me. I had a ton of excuses as to why she couldn't, but I decided that wasn't for me to decide, so I invited. Luckily, she accepted. That was the first time I have gone to the temple with someone who wasn't family. It was a really interesting experience. It was so great to have company on the trip there and back. It was great to not feel alone in a room full of people. Also it seemed to add importance to going. I had a great time with Bethany, and it was interesting to learn on the way home that she had wanted to go to temple, but didn't see how she could do that. Her life is pretty crazy. However, she said that when I invited her she was like, "YES!" It was all she needed to make the commitment for this month. She just needed someone to go with. Heavenly Father is very aware of each of our needs and desires and I think He knew what both Bethany and I needed and he put us together to help both of those needs. It was a really great reminder about Heavenly Father's love for his children.

The other reminder I had of that was in October when Gaupo and I went to the temple together. We decided to do sealings together. When we went it was shortly after Derek's birthday. Well obviously not too shortly, but not too far either. Anyway, Derek had been on my mind a lot at the time. Anyway, the temple is busy everywhere, but the sealing room. So, we have to to visit with the sealer. As the conversation went the sealer asked us how many children we had and we said we have to on earth and one in Heaven. He then asked us some more about that and, so I got to kind of tell the story of Derek. It isn't the first time I have told non-members of our family the story, but it is definitely the first time I have talked about it in the sealing room with a sealer. It is not like we had a spectacular gospel discussion on still-born children and their sealing and membership in the family. (I didn't really need that I know the thing I felt the day Derek was born.) However, the spirit that accompanied me in that room as we talked of children that aren't here with us on earth. It was so peaceful and healing. I didn't feel a presence or anything just a feeling that testified that Heavenly Father knew my struggles and that Gaupo and I's sealing was powerful. I can't quite explain it, but this I can say. What I felt in that room that night was the Holy Ghost and if  nothing else it helped me know that Heavenly Father loves me. He knows me, my concerns, my loss, my joy, my happiness, and my sorrow. He knows it all and He shares his love with me in sweet tender ways that lets me know He there.

I am so grateful for the temple. I love that as I look for the Savior and as I try to feel his Spirit I can draw nearer to Him. I will be honest, I don't feel like it happens every time I go, but it does happen little by little, and every time I go to his house I can feel the Spirit more. Every time I go to the temple I know I am doing what is right. I love the temple and the joy and peace it brings to my life. It is worth the effort to as often as you can. The frequency that is right for you is between you and the Lord and is different for everyone. However, if you will do as the Lord asks he provides a way.

Halloween Week

I think I might say this every year, but Halloween is becoming more and more fun every year. I love all the holidays this time of year, but I am loving Halloween. It takes a lot of work and it sometimes sneaks up on my, but I haven't missed it yet and I love it. This year was even more fun than last year.

As per our annual Halloween traditions Gaupo and I started watching Halloween movies toward the beginning of the month. We actually did a good job at watching most of them. I didn't watch Earnest Scared Stupid this year, but Gaupo did and we didn't watch Casper, but all other we watched which is pretty good. We even got some kid ones and watch those with the girls. It was so great. Also, as our Halloween traditions go we made goulish food all week. Sadly a couple of Gaupo and I's favorite meals the girls don't like, but for the most part we have found what our family likes and it is so good. So, here they are.

The traditional kick-off meal. Autumn Sausage casserole. (Eaten on Mon and Wednesday)

Spider Sliders. (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Jack-O-Lantern Cassadias. (Thursday)

Pumpkin shaped pizza. The kid one. (Friday)

Stuffed pizza in the shape of a pumpkin-Adults. (Friday)

Trick-or-Treat Turnovers. (Saturday)

Dirt Cake. Dessert on Sunday

The girls thought this handed needed candles. (Monday)

Meatloaf hand. (Monday)

Molded Mac-n-Cheese and Worms (Tuesday)

Also, as most people do on Halloween we get dressed-up and go trick-or-treating. My girls started out wanting to be Maona (Kylee) and Maui (Tia). Then they moved on to being a ghost (Tia) and a star (Kylee). Finally, they settled on Toothless and Stormfly. Both are dragons from the movie How to Train Your Dragon. The girls insisted that I dress up too, and that is really where the idea for their costumes came from, but it was really cool and fun. I went as Astrid one of the main girls from How to Train Your Dragon. You definitely have to use your imaginations with our costumes and most people didn't know what they were, but the girls loved them and we had fun. Plus it was easy to make them warmer as this year it was really cold on Halloween. Anyway, we went trick-or-treating. We went up the street and into the neighborhood at the top of the hill and the girls filled their buckets. We have so much candy. In a lot of ways I understand why my parents just had us stay on our street and not go door-to-door because there is so much candy it is crazy. They love and they enjoyed dumping it out, sifting through it, and then eating way more than they usually get in a whole day. I did have to stop Tia because she would have made herself sick, and Kylee says she might throw-up tonight, but we will see. I think she will be okay. Anyway, it was a really fun night. I wish Gaupo could have been home to hangout with us when we got back and handout candy instead of being some of the slightly lame ones that just leave a bowl out, but hey at least I did that.

Kylee Back.

Kylee Front.

Tia Front.

Tia Back.

Tia and Kylee.

Tia, Me, and Kylee.

Tia and her candy stash.

Kylee and her stash.

Kylee and Tia together.

I love this holiday because I feel like it is one that Gaupo and I have kind of made out own. Neither one of our families is super into it. They both let us dress up and go trick-or-treating, but much more than that we didn't do. Gaupo's family I think did a bit more, but not too much. However, he is the reason it is celebrated so long here. However, I love it. I love that we have traditions that stay the same and change. Making Halloween meals is a lot of work, but it is fun and the kids look forward to it. We usually invent our costumes, which I think is fun, but in a lot of ways I don't know if that one will be able to hang on because it just isn't the cool thing anymore, but I will do it as long as my kids enjoy it. This year we read The Best Halloween Ever as a family and it was fun to gather and read a book together. Our traditions cause us to gather at night and want to be home and partake in these things and that is what I love. I love that our family spends time together. We make memories like blowing into the rootbeer that has dry ice and carving pumpkins and laughing at the kid (Tia this year. It has been Kylee in years past) who can not stand the thought of putting their hand in the pumpkin to clean it out. Then laughing more when they squeal with disgust when they actually try it once. I mean none of this stuff is big, but its fun. It makes being a family a true delight. I love that my family gets to celebrate and play together. So, I will always be grateful to Gaupo for really urging us to celebrate Halloween when I was originally, so opposed to it.

Me helping carve the pumpkin.

Kylee pondering about what else to color on hers.

Kylee helping clean this pumpkin out.

Blowing into the rootbeer

Kylee in the costume parade at school.

Tia in the costume parade at school.

What A Week!!

This past week was pretty crazy. It was fun, and full of really good maybe even the best thing, but that didn't make it any less crazy. Monday was the really chill day of the week. The girls didn't have school and I let them decided if they wanted to stay here and go swimming and to the library or if they wanted to go into the mountains and go on a hike. They chose to stay here and to be honest it is probably for the best because the rest of the week was nuts. Anyway, we played at the pool and then went to the library. Then we had lunch and quiet time. When they woke up we read some books and just kind of lazed around a bit. Around 4ish we had my friend Bethany and her boys Jensen and Calvin drop by.  I took the boys for just a little bit while she ran to the store. The kids had a lot of fun jumping on the tramp and playing in the leaves. Tia as always loved having Calvin (a baby) around and wanted to show him all her tricks, help him sit, give and take toys from him, and just love on him. It was pretty fun. Monday was good.

Tuesday Kylee had a field trip and I offered to watch Calvin so that Bethany could go on the field trip with them. So, Kylee and Tia went to school and Calvin and I did Relief Society visits. It was so great. He was the prefect kid. He played and was content he didn't start getting upset until the very end of the last visit and then we ran a couple errands and he fell asleep. So, when we went to get Tia I just put him in the stroller and he slept in there and then we walked back to the car. It sounds so plain and ordinary, but it was so awesome. I use to dream that I would have days like that with my girls and a baby. I know not all days would be that peaceful and perfect, but still it was a moment that was like 'Oh, this would be so fun and so perfect. I wouldn't have to be alone, but I could still get stuff done and it would be great.' It was great. Well, then I picked up Tia from school and I got a little bit of a reality check on what it would really be like because Tia cannot keep her hands of of him. I had to watch him very closely to make sure she wasn't trying to lug him around the house or fold him up to tight, taking all his toys, or squishing him. It was not very relaxing, but I was still a tiny bit sad when his mom came to get him because I sure loved having him around. However, it was  great to have Kylee home. Tori and Tia don't exactly know what to do when Kylee isn't home, so I was really glad to have her back and she had a great time on her field trip and was so excited to ride the school bus.

Tuesday afternoon was pretty normal. Gaupo's schedule got switched up though, so he was home at a normal time, so that was kind of weird, but also good. It actually worked out perfect though because we had RS meeting that night and since he was home I didn't have to get a babysitter. The activity was really fun. We did Cars, Cars, Cars and we had some men in our ward come and help us learn about basic car stuff like how to change a tire, how to jump a car, how to change the oil, and what to have in your car in case of an emergency. It was really fun, but we were having a committee meeting after and the activity ran kind of late, and then people were just talking and kind of wouldn't leave and they weren't the people you could just tell to leave you kind of needed to talk with them. So, finally we got to our meeting and planned the next couple and I finally got home around 10:30. It was late and I was done. I am glad we had the meeting and all, but it was just late.

It seem really late because Wednesday was a full day too. Well actually the morning was suppose to be empty, and I kind of soaked that in more than I should. I didn't go on a run till after Kylee was at school. I took Tia in the stroller and while we were out running I asked her if she wanted to run by the park. She said yes, but she wanted our friend Jacob to come. So, we finished running and got home and called Jacob's mom to see if they could come. We went over to the park and met them there. It was really fun to visit with his mom and watch the kids play. It kind of takes kids awhile to figure out how to play WITH each other, but they finally got it and they got to do it for a bit, but then we had to rush to the school to get Kylee and Jensen. Once we had them, I dropped Jensen off at home and came back. The plan was to just play and have lunch and quiet time, but then Bethany texted wondering if I needed any kitchen stuff. It was too hard to decide through pictures, so I went over and it was good to go over, but then our lunch was super late and that of course delayed quiet time and I still needed a shower. So, I got that done real quick and I was just sitting down to do some PPC work and doorbell rings. It was the kids I was going to watch while their mom went to the doctor. So, I didn't get work done and these kids had just gotten out of the car after like 8 hours, so they were crazy. I have watched them before and sometimes its good and sometimes it crazy. There are three of them, so when they come I have 7 kids. WOOF!! Most times they just run around in a couple of packs, so its really like only watching about 4 kids, but not this time, nope it was every kid for himself. I had to keep track of all of them and they were not in the best behaving mode, and I also had to deal out a punishment for Tia and Tori because they stuck my church keys in my car ignition earlier, so I was trying to do all this while 6 other kids are running around one of which is an 18 month old who keeps getting up on my tramp that doesn't have a net and the other kids think that is so great and jump him AGHHHHH!! I run and get him and move the steps away, but then of course I have to go do something and before I know it the other kids have moved it back and he is up there again. He finally had to stay inside. AUGH! Anyway, by the end I was so done. I was fried, fried, fried. When all the kids left I managed to help with homework and get to swim lessons, but at swim lessons I did the work I had as fast as I could and then I just sat there and was still and quiet. It was so needed and so great. Then we went home had dinner and then I rushed off to help Bethany with some packing and moving. When I got home about 9:00, I didn't do anything just talked to Gaupo for a bit and went to bed.

Thursday was a whole new day. I got up and I think I managed to go running I don't remember, but I did make granola bars because I had a pot luck at 11:30, but I was volunteering all day in Tia's class and so I wouldn't be home to make anything and I obviously didn't get it done the day before. So, I got those done, got the kids to school and helped all morning it Tia's class. It was actually really fun. Her teachers have a rhythm and they are so good at what they do. They help the kids develop so many great skills. I am so glad I got to go and be there it was so fun to just enjoy preschool and see and interact with the kids and the other mom there. It was awesome, definitely time well spent. So, I gathered the kids from school and then ran over and picked up a boy named Gideon that I was going to watch that afternoon. His dad is such a great dad, but I was in a little bit of a hurry, so all the explaining, changing of the diaper, and all the stuff delayed me more than I thought it would but it all worked out. We got to the potluck and I enjoyed it there at least until the end, when I hear this screaming from where they kids are. I think its Tori, but then Tia is the one walking up the stairs. I ask her what is wrong and she was kind of hard to understand, and so I thought she was just complaining that the kids weren't doing what she wanted them to, so I told her to go figure it out. Well while she was turning to back downstairs I noticed her elbow was all bloody. Well, I called her back and asked her again what happened and I still didn't get it except that it happened on the treadmill. I later learned when Kitt asked her that she was on the treadmill and it was moving and she was doing fine until the boys came on and pushed her out of the way. So, really I am SOOOOOOOO lucky that she wasn't hurt worse because I had no idea. No one did. I didn't even know there was a treadmill down there, but it wasn't too bad, but it could of been. We were blessed. So anyway we got that bandaged up and by this time I am kind of frazzled because my kid just got hurt, Gideon now only wants to be held, and its just time to go. We eventually go, but the kids didn't eat at the potluck, so I had to make them some lunch which was late and then quiet time was late and then Gideon did not want to sleep. He probably only slept for like 30 minutes and I really wanted more me time than that, but it didn't happen. So, I was really glad when all the kids went home and it was just our house again. We had dinner and then Gaupo and I watched a movie. Sadly it wasn't that great, so I didn't get the full relaxation I wanted from it but it wasn't a bad movie, so that was good. (Double, Toil, and Trouble with Mary Kate and Ashely Olsen) Anyway, we then went to bed.

Friday I was ready to just have me and Tia in the morning, but Bethany called and needed me to watch Calvin, so I said yes. So, I tried to get Tia to work on a project she needed to do for school, but that was just frustrating to everyone, so I finally gave up and just let her play. Then we went to speech and Tia got to push Calvin in the stroller and she loved every minute of that. She also really likes speech and loved having Calvin there. Those two were so cute on the way. Tia just got Calvin laughing and it was so cute. When we got home we had Bethany over for lunch and a visit. When she was getting ready to leave, someone came and knocked on our door. It was Kitt and Matthew. They had come to visit me. I was so surprised and excited for two reasons. One they were at my house, but two they got engaged!! Wahoooo!! I am really excited for them. They came in and I got the kiddos down, and then we chatted for awhile during which time we through me invited them to join us for our stay at home date. They agreed as long as they could spend time calling people. I said and yes and so they stayed. It is a good thing they did because Calvin's formula got left at my house and I needed to run to the person who was watching him that afternoon. So, they stayed home and I ran the formula over, visited for a bit, then ran to the store and got the stuff to make fancy carmel apples. The rest of the afternoon was pretty normal. Once Trent and Tori left I got started on our dinner. I got it in the oven and spent some time with my kids. Then dinner is getting almost done and I get a text from Gaupo saying when is too late to get back? He was helping Bethany move one because he is a nice guy and two because he is their home teacher. Anyway, I told him 20 min, but he said he wasn't going to make it because he needed to go to Firestone with them. I was crushed because I had our 'fancy' dishes out and the table look great, I had a new and good dinner ready to come out, we were suppose to have a date, and he wasn't going to be home and when he got home it he would be exhausted. Well, I got over it and I waited for Kitt and Matthew for a bit, but then I got tired of waiting for them to be done, so I just called the kids for dinner and we ate together. It was actually really nice just the three of us because we got to visit and enjoy each other. We were finishing up when Matthew and Kitt joined us and they are pretty quick eaters, so we all finished about the same time and had ice cream for dessert. Then we watch Cat In the Hat Trick-or-Treat. Gaupo got home in the middle and had dinner. Then we put the kids to bed. I had thought our date would be cancelled, but Gaupo insisted he was up for it, so we made scrumptious carmel apples it was so good. We got done and visited for a bit and then sent Kitt and Matthew on their way and then just went to bed.

Saturday dawned early because I needed to make a batch of bread so I could take it to Women's conference at 10:00. I went to the conference and it was good, but I was also on the clean-up committee and we were there till 3:30. It was AWFUL!! It took so long to clean up I couldn't believe it. By the time I got back on Saturday I was done. However, my family needed me, so I spent time with them and got them into  bed and then I still needed to do some grocery shopping, so I did that and got home around 8:00. Gaupo and I spent some time together and went to bed.

Sunday was a day of rest. It was so great. We just had church that is it. It was so awesome. A very much needed break. Yesterday and Today have been busier than Sunday but nothing to crazy. Tia and I got to work on her pages for her VIP book for preschool and she did a great job. I meant to take pictures, but I forgot. We enjoyed being with each other and enjoyed just doing what we needed to. I also made white bread which made Gaupo super happy and I watched Gideon again today and this time he took a 2 hour nap. So, things have leveled out some but man last week was crazy. I totally felt like I was just keeping my head above water, yet I know Heavenly Father needed me where I was last week and doing the things I was doing because I did everything I needed to. Somethings didn't get done, but they were just extra things, but the things that mattered or needed to be done got done and I think that, that was Heavenly Father blessing me to have the strength, energy, and ability to do the thing that needed to be done. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father cares about his children in both the big and the little things. He helped Kitt find her key chain and Klaire a parking spot when I said prayer that both of those things would happen. He allowed me to be able to do, for the most part enjoy, and not feel guilty about a busy and good week. Heavenly Father is in the details. He love us. He loves ME.

A Little Blurb

I don't have a lot of time to write this post because quiet time is almost over, but I decided instead of wast time on Facebook maybe I would try to write something about what I do and I why I am not blogging as regularly.

Mostly the reason I don't blog is because now that school is back in and we have fallen into a rhythm I don't feel like we do a whole. We go to school, the kids come home, we eat, sleep, play, do swim lessons, eat and go to bed. On weekends we just kind of hangout. Okay, that last statement isn't really true we have done a lot of great stuff on weekends, and they have been really full. Like this past Saturday I canned applesauce. Yes, I finally did it. After enough complaining and procrastinating I got it done. It wasn't so bad making it and processing it, but wow clean-up took FOREVER, and I was already tired from canning it, then my house was a disaster because my kids had been neglected all day, and man there was just a lot of mess. However, with my family's help we got it all done before the Fiesta were they served us dinner. The girls helped clean up their toys and stuff and Gaupo helped me clean-up the garage. The garage needed cleaning because that is were we had to process the jars because it was so windy outside. Oh well, applesauce is done along with 20 pints of both pinto beans and black beans. I still have a few empty quart jars, but I now have more jars full than I every have before, so that is great. It feels really good to have full shelves, the canning stuff put away, and a somewhat clean house.

Although, I do need to give a shout-out to Gaupo. He has helped me out so much with things lately, and it has made a huge difference in my ability to do the other things that need doing. He cleaned my bathroom for me a week ago this past Tuesday. He scrubbed everything including the walls. It looked amazing. I was so grateful, it needed to be done, but because of how thing in the week were falling I wasn't going to be able to get to it and he had some time, so he served me and it was amazing. Then this last week with applesauce he not only cleaned the garage up, but he ran most of the apple through the processor which allowed me to the other canning processes, so even though making applesauce still took forever, it went a lot faster and better because he helped me. He has also been great about me taking a off a few times to help my friend Bethany with packing and cleaning her house. He is just I don't know, but I guess managing to pick-up a few of the things that I am not quite handling right now and it has been great. He is amazing at everything he can mange to do and help and do. I am so grateful for him and that he doesn't shy away from 'wifey' things, and doesn't get made when sometimes I do 'husband' things, we just help each other out and are who we are and it is so great. I feel so blessed to have Gaupo here with me and be working at life together.

Well I know that isn't much of an update, but I told you it would be short. The kids are awaking and I need to get some beans in the pot for dinner tonight.

Roller Coaster

Today Kylee, Tori, and Tia decided to build a roller coaster. I am horrible at filming and taking pictures, but they put a lot of effort into this roller coaster. It went all the way up the stairs around the loop and then back down again. They felt so accomplish and really I didn't realize all of it until I looked at the video's again and I highly doubt that I caught a good enough video for you guys to see their hard work, but here it. Just remember they came up with idea and did this all on their own. I am really impressed with how long they stuck to it, how they worked together, and how accomplished they felt at building their roller coaster.

Blurry pic of them at the start of the coaster

Another one a little less blurry.

Girl Party

This past Saturday and Sunday were General Conference. I love conference, but sometimes it gets a little tricky to get into the spirit of it and enjoy it with my kids. This year was really good. They did pretty well at playing, coloring, and enjoy being with Mom and Dad. However, this year my favorite part of conference was the Priesthood session. It isn't because we watched it but because I got to play with Tia and Kylee. I got a couple offers from friends to come play during that time, but before I got those offers I had decided that we were going to paint piggies and watch Moana. It was sure tempting to take my friends offers and go chat with them while the kids played. It would have been fun and fine, but I am really glad I didn't because me and my girls needed us time.

Between school and watching Trent and Tori, we really don't get a whole lot of time to be just us and to play. I always feel like we have other people around. That isn't all bad, actually most of the time it is really nice and I think my kids learn a lot from playing with friends and learning how to navigate those situations within the safety of our home. However, it totally crunches my let's go head off and do whatever we want-ness. I could do it with the other kids in tow, but those kids aren't mine and so they don't handle things like my kids do and sometimes I want to be just us. (Disclaimer: Even though I feel this way sometimes, I feel so grateful to watch Trent and Tori. I love that even though our kids spend 25 hours a week together, they still want to spend more time together. I love that Tori and Trent know me, and obey me. They understand our rules and are really good kids. So I am very glad I get to watch them.) 

That said it was time for us girls to party. We painted our piggies. We did them festively in Halloween colors and images. Then the three of us curled up on the couch and watched Moana together. We were later joined by our dad. There is just something about all of your family being together and loving that it special. I talk or write about this little girl party we had together and I think what was so special about it? I think what was special is that we all loved it. I loved that when Kylee knew the plan she said, "I want to paint piggies and watch Moana, so I want to stay home." I love that Tia sat still enough for us to do ghosts on her toes. I love that we enjoyed being together. Every now and then I wonder why we don't have more kids, or what exactly the plan was for not having Derek live here on earth. I don't know why, but more importantly I can see how I have been blessed. I have had time to really love and cherish my girls. I have had time to make important decisions about how to help them each with their individual struggles. I have learned to play and love my kids. I feel like a path has been made for me to be the mom I want to be and feel about my kids the way I have always wanted to feel about them. I don't know if any of this makes sense, but I hope it does. I love the time I get with my girls and I love being their mom. Yeah, there are time I make them mad and times they make me go gray, or mad, but I wouldn't want my life with out them. Moments like Saturday night remind me that this--my Tia, Kylee, and Gaupo are my everything and I love them and the moments we get to cherish together. 

2 Weekends, 2 Parties, and 1 Spoiled but Grateful Mama

I feel like my life will hit a lull and we will just be doing the same stuff over and over, but I don't know stuff just keeps happening and I feel like I can never get it all blogged about. I wish I could. Imagine if I could blog about all the cool projects my kids do, how they play with their friends, how FHE goes, what we do for fun, how Gaupo's school is, what we do for Relief Society meetings, etc. I would have quite the blog, but I am guessing I wouldn't have much of a life, so you readers are stuck with highlights, or what I can manage to post in the time I take to sit down and write it.

These last couple weekends have been really fun. The weekend before last so Oct. 15th, our family got to go to Elitch Garden's with Aunt Kitt, Matthew, and Tabitha (Kitt's roommate). It was a lot of fun. The girls had a blast. They rode and rode and rode. They could not get enough of it. I on the other hand rode two rides and threw-up. So, Elitches-2 Katey-0. I did ride the Ferris Wheel later on and the little kid coaster. I also would have ridden Mind Eraser, but we ran out of time. It was a bummer, but I am sure we will go again sometime. Gaupo and I definitely want to take the girls when they are older and when the water park is open too. It was fun to spend more time with Kitt and Matthew although you can tell that Matthew has started school and they are not seeing each other everyday. Matthew has kind of a two track mind right now. It consists of school and Kitt. Kitt has more tracks than that, but the major track is Matthew. It is so fun to see them together. However, my favorite part by far is watching Kylee and Tia get such a thrill from the rides. They loved everything and rode every ride they could. They rode the kid coaster a solid 3 or 4 times and loved it every time. It was such a great trip. We got home about 11:00PM, but it was worth a fun family night together.

Me waiting for Elitch's to open.

Kylee

Tia

Gaupo, Tia, Kylee, Me, Kitt, Matthew

Matthew, Kitt, Kylee. We got really cold on top of the ferris wheel, so Kylee climbed in with Kitt.

And Tia climbed in with Tabitha.

This weekend was a first for me. I left Tia and Kylee home with Gaupo, while I went to UT. I drove out on Saturday with my parents. I read a book for about 6 hours of the trip. I didn't keep track of where we were, I didn't get interrupted to turn on music, have a snack, get asked are we there yet, or any other question associated with traveling with other people especially kids. It was really nice to just sit back and enjoy the ride. When we got to Kara and Seth's house it was fun to visit and help and not have to worry about my kids or Gaupo. It was great to be able to play with Ross. We built a tent and read books in it. It was so fun to have my life simplified and just be a sister, daughter, aunt, and cousin. Sometimes I worry that that sounds terrible, but you know I came home really late Sunday and saw my kids laying in there beds and realized how much I cared for and missed them. I climbed in bed with Gaupo and realized how much I missed his constant love and companionship. Yes, I got a break and it was so great, but I don't need a forever one because I love being a wife and mother, but I also can't deny how nice it was to have a break. 

One of my favorite things about the weekend in UT was visiting with my cousin Lisa. We are only about 4 months apart and we have always been pretty close. Well this weekend neither her nor I had kids on Sunday and so we were able to just visit and hang together and it was so refreshing. We could just talk and laugh like we use to it was fun. So, nice.

Me and Lisa as cute as ever.

Also this weekend, all my mom and all my sisters but Lindsay were able to go to Women's Conference together. That was really fun. We all got to sit together and enjoy delicious apple cinnamon doughnuts together. It has been 6 years since we have gone to a General Women's session together and the one we did get was the General Young Women's session. Anyway, it was fun I would have loved to just hang out more just us, but we needed to do other things. 

Kara, Klaire, Mom, Me, and Kitt

A few other random things I loved was staying up late talking. I am sure Matthew was a little amazed at how silly we can get and the memories we have that crack us up so much, but hey it's how we roll I guess it is a good thing to learn. I also loved watching Seth bless Levi. I am always so grateful to watch my brother's hold and use their Priesthood. It is such special blessing.  I love watching Seth be around his family and how much he feels loved when they come to things like this. It is really great. Also, getting to hold a sweet little baby boy this weekend was so great. I almost cried but I didn't. However, that little boy is so precious and him and his brother are going to have a blast. As you can tell it was a great weekend.

Me, Ross, Seth, Kara, Levi, Mom, Klaire, Dad, and Kitt

By the way, Tia and Kylee loved being home with Gaupo. They watched two movies in one day. They got pizza and special drinks for dinner. Plus Gaupo bought them M&M's and Sweedish Fish. They got to stay up a little late, and they got to ride in Daddy's car. Gaupo did their hair on Sunday and it looked really good for a guy that never, ever does hair. He took good care of them and they had a blast. On one facetime call I asked if I could leave again sometime and Gaupo said no, but Kylee said"Yes, the next time." So, we will see. Gaupo was a great sport to let me go, so we will try to stick around for a bit and support him in all he has going on here.

It has been fun to party the last couple weekend, but it will be nice to soak in some General Conference this weekend and be at home as a family.  I am so blessed for all the family I have.

Falling Into a Rhythm

As of last week, everything has officially started. For us that means the girls are in school and swim lessons, Gaupo is in school, I am watching Trent and Tori and working for my cousin Robert. So, now that everything has started we are kind of falling into a rhythm. It is really nice to have a rhythm, but I sometimes really miss the spontaneity of summer. Oh well, I need to quit moping about it, because it will come again and in the mean time I need to enjoy were we are at.

So, typically our day starts with me going running. I get home and pray with Gaupo. Then I get the girls ready for school while Gaupo gets ready for work. Then we gather on the couch for scripture study. We have been reading a whole page, but a couple week ago the lesson in Relief Society/Priesthood was on the scriptures and we decided we need to slow it down and explain to our kids what they were reading. I think the kid enjoy it more now and I know I do because I don't have to fight them as much. It seems to fit their abilities a little bit better. After scriptures is breakfast. Gaupo has been trying to join us for breakfast. He learned in a sleep class that he needs to have breakfast. He usually has to hurry a little so is done way before us, but it is fun to have him around for at least part of it. If I make something besides eggs he even eats what I make which is even more fun. Once breakfast is done it is off to school. I usually have the girls bike to school; although, this week Tia's back tire went flat, so they scootered to school. It is much fast and enjoyable to ride. Once at school we park our getting to school devices and head for the classrooms. If Tia has preschool I get her all signed in, but if not we stand by Kylee in line and walk her to the door. This is per Kylee request. She really could do it without us but since she doesn't through a fit when I let go of her hand at the door, I figure it's fine. If both kids are in school I do a variety of things, but when Kylee only has school Tia and I have to come home. Usually I let Tia decide if she is going to play at the park or head right home and which way we are going to go. We have a great time at the park, so I don't mind going for a bit. Whenever we head home though it is kind of a tough ride. Tia is a super biker though and so even though its rough she toughs it out and is doing great at it. Once home I usually let her watch a show while I take a shower and then we try to pass the time till we have to go get Kylee. We never do the same thing, so I can't really tell you what we do. Sometimes it's errands, sometimes it games. Other times we go to a friends house or play. We just do what we want. Then we go get Kylee. I usually park a ways away from the school and then we bike/scooter to the car and then drive the rest of the way. It works out nicely. We get home and settle just a bit and then Trent and Tori come. Then the kids play. We have lunch or go to our friends house. Then we do quiet time. Then the kiddos play more till snack time. Then play more until their mom comes and its time for dinner. Then if its a swim night we do swim if not then we kind of just enjoy us as a family.

I guess I still do plenty of spontaneous stuff it is just different. I spend a lot of time at my friend Bethany's house and that is really fun because the kids have other friends to play with there, and I get to play with my friend. I really do want to take the kids swimming, but haven't been able to since I got stiches. I got them out today, but still need to wait a bit for them to heal up right. I don't know that is kind of our life right now. I wish I could figure out a way to better monitor or supervise my kids play, but I can't because if I am around then they suddenly can't solve any problems on their own and it seems to break up the fun they have. So, if you have suggestions I am up for them.

It is nice to have a rhythm, and I love that my girls like school. I am finally learning what happens in Kindergarten from Kylee. She has been super talkative about it the last couple of day, and I LOVE it. She is even remember a few kids in her class names. She loves to tell me about the different center options she has and how she gets to choose and which one she did and the one she wants to do. She is really starting to feel at home in it I think and I am so glad. She has enjoyed school previous to this, but I just feel like it has really clicked for her recently and  it is actually something she looks forward to. 

Tia still doesn't give me a whole lot of info on preschool, but I love that her teacher tells us a little about it. I love that they have an app called seesaw where they post pictures of what they did at school so I can see her. I also love that she is picking up on the songs and things they do at school. When she starts singing songs from school, I know she is learning and loving it. 

For how much I feared this change in our life, I am loving it. I love the one-on-one time with Tia. I love watching Kylee totally get many of the concepts she is learning at school and that she seems more confident and willing to try new things. I am not the hugest fan of Gaupo's schooling yet, but guess what? If we pass everything, then only one more semester to go and we will be DONE!! That is the one good thing about it starting it is almost over. As for me and my work it goes well most day. Sometimes I worry that my kids get too much friend time and not enough family time. I worry that I don't have the patience that I should with all of them, but for the most part it goes really well. My work for Robert is good. I am getting better at it, so it is taking less time which is bad because I make less money but good because then my brain and eyes don't hurt so much. It is worth it to be more efficient. I really love living my life. We are perfect. Our life isn't perfect, but you know it is such a joy to be living it and I love that I feel that way about it.

Blessings

Sometimes I wonder if I am really progressing. If I am doing what I should. Or any other host of thoughts, but then I have times when I know that even though I am not perfect the Lord loves me and understands me and blesses me with what I need.

Today was such a day. Today I got to go to the temple. It is so nice to go to the temple in the middle of the week because it is so calm. Also, you get a great break right in the middle of everything and that is awesome too. I got off a little late this morning (because I didn't get up and stay up), but I knew it would be okay because I had time and Gaupo could help in a pinch. However, I made great time to the temple and didn't really end up getting there any later than I had planned. I got to do inititories for seven sisters and then got to sit in the Celestial room. All in all I was in the temple for about and hour and it was so great.

Going to the temple is a great break and jump start, but it does take time and I had thing that I really needed to get done. They were simple things, but needed nonetheless. One of those was making bread. I got home and had just enough time to get the bread mixed up and put in pans to rise before I had to go get the girls from school. I got them picked up and home and then got the bread in the oven, Gaupo off to work, and the dishes done. While the bread baked the kids got to play and just enjoy and they did a pretty good job of it, so that was super nice too. Then we had lunch and naps. I took a little nap, but that was all I needed to get going again. I amazing thought of something to add to our leftovers, so that I didn't have to cook an all new dinner. Then we had dinner together.  Then I got that cleaned up and then we cleaned bathrooms. As we were finishing that up, I got a text from my friend Siri telling me the Rec Center was closed. That was amazing because we hadn't left yet and could still go to Sunset instead. So, we went swimming and had a great time. Came home, had baths, and then I cleaned my bathroom and took a shower. Then I sat down to blog and my parents called with some great plans that I can't tell you yet because I haven't talked to Gaupo about them, but I am so excited about the prospects. Then now I am blogging.

Alright,  to you this day may not seem like that big of a blessing, but it was. Everything I needed to do got done. I had to make bread and I had the perfect amount of time to do it, so we could have bread for lunch. I was able to figure out something for dinner. I know big deal, but it is I have a really hard time figuring out what to do on the fly that is small, quick, and that my kids will eat that isn't Mac and Cheese (we already had that this week). Then the text from Siri. It really came at the perfect time. I mean we were almost done cleaning, but not quite. I responded quick enough, so she could still meet up with us at the other pool. The pool didn't kick us out before 7:00 and my girls still got a reward for helping me with the bathrooms. It was perfect timing. Then to be able to clean a bathroom after going swimming is not something I usually have the energy for after a whole day, but this really was kind of my last chance before Kitt and Matthew came to get it done without Gaupo being home. I got it done it looks and feel amazing. I got a shower and the phone call from my parents. I can tell you they are coming for a visit and I am so excited about that.

Like I said, these weren't major blessings but they were blessing that spoke to me of  Heavenly Father's love and awareness of my needs and desires. I am always amazed when He blesses me in my simple mundane everyday things. It amazes me that this all powerful, all knowing God cares about cleaning, cooking, and fun. He cares about me enough to know exactly what blessings I need. I am so grateful for His love and His hand in the details of my life. I am a blessed, loved daughter of God.

Me at the temple today. Pardon the squinty face it was so bright outside.