Spring Break 2024

 This week was Spring Break. At the beginning of the week we made a list of what we wanted to do on spring break. I wasn't sure we could get it all done especially since Gaupo had Covid and I wasn't sure who would get sick and who would be well. However, we managed to do all the things and had a great break together. I was also wondering how it would go because we had to online learning days our school districts new snow days and I wasn't sure how the actual break would go.

Monday was a primarily get things done day. Kylee and I went on Monday to another therapist. Kylee really liked this one or at least like the office so hopefully this is a good therapist and we can get the help we want and get to go to a cool office. I really do think it will  work out good, but time will tell. I also took Tia to find new glasses. This girl is so picky and as parents we are kind of picky because I hate when they slip down in front of her eyes. Anyway, we did find a pair and I hope they work. We did pick them up on Friday and so far they aren't too bad, but I just hope they keep working and staying on her face. That night Kylee and Tia went to Urban Air with Trent and Tori and had a blast. I took the twins and Hope to Little Monkey Business for a birthday party for a girl in the twins class. So, we all had a fun night playing with friends and places we rarely go. 

Tuesday the dentist for Kylee and Tia and free cone day at Dairy Queen. So, in the morning we did our dental appointments and in the afternoon we went to DQ for free cones. It was gorgeous weather so we enjoyed them out on the patio. Then on the way home we stopped at a little store called The Hidden Treasure to get some paintbrushes. Really I just kind of wanted to see what they had, but we did need paintbrushes, so we stopped to check it out. We had a good time looking at all the things and did find paintbrushes. Then we came home and painted Book of Mormons. Abby has been wanting to paint her scriptures since Kylee and I did it for a RS activity and we finally did it. It turns out I am not a craft with kiddos person. One-on-one is okay, but a whole group with paint on my new to me table was a little overwhelming but my kids were patient with me and we got it done and everyone loves their scriptures. That night Tia had activity days and so she and I went to that while everyone else stayed home and enjoyed tv time with dad.

Me, Tia, Abby, Kade, and not pictured Kylee at DQ

Kade: He wanted a bow and arrow and sling shot
Abby: I dont know all of it but flowers, stars, and her name
Tia: Jesus in the tomb. An then sun rising.
Kylee: The sun rising on the ocean. Something she is sure that Nephi and his family saw while crossing.

Wednesday we stayed a little closer to home. It was laundry day, so we got that started and then for something to do we rode bikes to the Richard's park. There was another kid who happened to be there and he joined us in our play. The rest of the day was just spent at home with quiet time and hanging out. We did watch CowBelle's together and that was fun to enjoy one another.

Thursday was a big day. We were orginally going to spread out the events but because of Gaupo's sickness and how well I was feeling. I did catch something and haven't felt healthy and normal since Tuesday night but our kids do not self entertain well, so we just kind of kept going. Anyway, Thursday i took the kids swimming in the morning. Then after lunch and naps we used our Get Out Pass for Bowling, Arcades, and Go-Karts. We also had a gift certificate we used to grab some Little Ceasers pizza for on the go dinner. It was really fun and went really well except that it got windy and cold at go-karts so we made it but could have gone better had we had jackets and pants for everyone. It was so fun to spend time as a family together. I don't think the Get Out Pass is worth it full price but its been totally worth the 75% off price I got it for. We have had a lot of fun together as a family which is what we got it for.

Kade and Jason on Go-Karts

Abby and Me

Bowling together

Jason and Kade

Kylee

Friday our fun thing was meeting Aunt Kitt at a new park for lunch. We picked on that looked cool in pictures. It was actually just a fancy neighborhood park but the kids still had fun and it was fun to go somewhere new. It was so great to remember that simple things like picnics, parks, and sunshine can be  just as perfect as going and doing things. Sometimes its best to slow down and enjoy the simple things.

Saturday we also spent some time with Kitt. We went to Lochbuie for their Easter Celebration. We got their just in time to get a few eggs from the 'hunt' which was really just a dash for eggs that were in the grass. We were a little late so we didn't get many but that is okay. Then we went to the petting zoo, and got some free lunch. Once again, just so great to be with Kitt in the sun. Its so great to go to parks and enjoy food and family. Then we went home and enjoyed Gaupo. He told me what he researched as far as how to build our garden this summer and we will see what happens. 

The week was good. I loved spending time with my kids. It was a good break from homework, practicing, and swim lessons. It was good to just do whatever and be together. I love break! I love my family. I have the best!

One Month Later

 Its amazing to me how easy it is to let 'just one time' escalate to more than that. Such is the case with the blog. Things came up in the time I had to do it and so it didn't happen. It was way easier to let it slip than to keep it up, but here I am hoping to try again. Plus the last month has had some great times that I need to write about.

Probably most importantly, Kylee turned 12! Its so crazy I have a 12 year-old but we have been anticipating this birthday for almost a year so its time to be 12. She decided to pierce her ears and so I went to my first tattoo shop with her and got it done. They did a great job and they seem to be healing really well. It was fun to do something with her that she has been looking forward to for quite awhile. I think she loves her pierced ears. She also is now riding in the front seat whenever she can. This is an adjustment for me since I now sometimes need the seat empty for her, she can see the speed I am going, has access to the music, and is right there next to me. For her actual birthday she wanted everyone over for dinner. She opted to have taco salad since Jason and I said we could not make tacos for everyone. It was so great to have everyone around. I acquired a new kitchen table earlier that week and it gets big and my family lovingly obliged and crammed everyone around the table. It was crowded but it was AWESOME!! I loved that conversations, the laughter, the tightness, but mostly that we were together. Together is an important thing to me and I love that it happened. I don't regret buying my table at all. I wish I could sell the other, but we will get there. So, we had taco salad dinner and then we had crock-pot cake. I made a triple batch. A double for my regular crock and then a single gluten free one in the small crock. It was so good. I feel so blessed to have family close and that we want to be together. Its fun to see the kids play with each other and have aunts and uncles they know and love.

Just a little about Kylee. This past year has been a tough one for her. She started middle school which she has really enjoyed. However, during sports she started having chest pain, she still has constant headaches, and she developed a huge cyst on her eye. These things have led to many doctor appointments, x-rays, scans, and not a whole lot of answers except that she seems healthy and for the cyst just be patient it will go away. Well, even over 4 months for development of these things we still don't have a lot of answers. The cyst is smaller and is going away. We are looking into therapy for anxiety to see if that is what is triggering headaches and chest pain. We will see its a journey and though there are rough patches she is handling things really well for being 12. Yep, there is still attitude at times, and there are moments when we both wonder if things will ever be better, but they are. She loves serving in her yw class. She is the 1st councilor and she loves planning activities and hates giving lessons and talks. She has a good group of friends at school. She loves attending the temple and her friend Tori Jacobson has been amazing at getting her there often. Its a challenge for us with so many younger kids, but have helped us so much. Kylee still loves dancing her own style and way. She loves to have music and audio books constantly around her. She loves her siblings and enjoys being with them. She has tried tons of things at school. She does well in her school work and is really a wonderful girl.

In other news, Tia and Kylee both had music concerts in the last couple weeks. Kylee had her second 6th grade band concert. She did a good job and it was fun to watch her. I don't think she will continue to play the flute and that kind of makes me sad but its been fun to watch her perform and learn something new. Tia had her 4th grade music concert. It was really good. She got to play the drums and she did well. I love watching her sing and do things she loves.

We are still in swimming lessons. Everyone is getting stronger and a little better every session. Kade and Abby are really starting to get their roll overs and they love, love swimming. Kylee loved being the best in her class this last session. It will be interesting to see what her and Tia think of being in the same class this round. Tia has made some new friends in her swim class and though she likes swimming I think she is loving the social aspect of swim, just being with kids who want to play with her. I know they are getting stronger because last week we rode our bikes to church. We did it to help our kids be able to sit better through stake conference and to help with parking. Elder Stephenson came and spoke, so that was a real treat. The kids didn't get to meet him because we didn't think of it soon enough, but I think it was a good day anyway. The kids rode all the way there and all the way back without any real issues. It was a push for the twins but they both did it!

Life is busy and good right now. Tia has a new medicine that as of right now seems to be working just right. I feel so blessed because things weren't right and I just kind of wanted to blow it off as her, but it just didn't seem right, so I reached out to the only doctor I could get a hold of (our pediatrician retired. its very sad) and she blessedly was able to get me an appointment with Dr. Meng who I really like and he did some talking and helped us out. We tried one thing and that didn't work and so we tried this other and I feel like it works. I am so glad we got that appointment because it is so nice to have our Tia back and I think she's glad to be back.

Life is one grand adventure right now. My kids today were asking how many miles we have on the van and I looked down and it was like 239,500-ish and I could help but smile and think to myself yep, 239,500 miles of adventure. We have ups and downs. Mothering at this stage is interesting and I am not sure how I am doing. I haven't 'played' in a long time with a child because the twins have had each other and love playing with each other, so I have to relearn how to do that with Hope. I am trying to parent pre-teens, and pre-schoolers. They all have different needs and levels that they need things. Its tricky to find what I need to be and to be it. But I keep trying and hopefully it all works out. It hard but I still love being a mom. I love that I get to be fully in this role and don't have to worry about work. I feel so blessed to right here right now.

 

Getting it done.

Kylee with pierced ears

Our family

Kylee

cousins!

The whole crew at the table

Kitt watched the kids when I went to Kade's IEP. I came home and my heart leapt with joy at this sight.

Tia on the drums