Spring Break

I started this post almost two weeks ago and I stopped to read to the twins before their nap and before that was through we were hit with a stomach bug. Kade threw-up first, the Abby about an hour later, then Tia, and though I didn't throw-up I sure felt like I was going to and was out of energy so laid around only getting up to help puking kids. Gaupo got the bug on Tuesday night and Kylee had it by Wednesday night. We have been in the clear since Friday. So, Saturday Kitt and her boys came for General Conference and birthday celebrations. We are both currently in a stage where conference is on for all the sessions and some listening happens but there is also a lot of choas. It gets busy especially when the dads have to work so its just two moms and 7 kids. However, what I got of conference was really good. We got to celebrate Kitt's birthday which is always fun to do. 

One other thing to mention is I played pickleball for my first time ever on Friday with a Relief Society group and loved it. I think its going to be a weekly thing, so that will be a great thing for me to be able to do.

So, the long lost spring break post.....

This past week was spring break break. It went by so fast. I could really use another week off of school. Lindsay asked me what I would do with it and honestly I would just play with my kids and be home more. I don't know why I feel that way because we did play, and where home, but apparently not enough for my liking.

Spring Break started off with a visit from Grandma and Grandpa. They got in on Friday about the same time the girls got home from school. I honestly thought I had another hour and hour and half before they got here, so I wasn't quite ready, but luckily I was able to finish dinner prep and get their bed made before they wanted to get their stuff out of the car. The kids were so excited to have them here that it was a little rough to get reading and piano practicing done, but the girls got it done, and we finished off the night with pizza and watching Luck of the Irish. 

Saturday we went to the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. It was really fun. All the exhibits are hands on and my kid favorite part was all the musical instruments that they had around for them to play. They had sound booths with drum pads and guitars. They had a garage that I think at less busy times has more instruments but this time it had a drum set and they all loved that. There was a tornado chamber they could try, space craft building and testing, some insects and reptiles for them to see, and their other favorite place a water table area where they could dam up and let flow the water. It was really fun and a great way to spend the day. We packed a lunch that we ate outside. It was really cold and we should have eaten in the cafe, but we didn't know that was an option so outside in the wind it was. Overall, we had a great time. Hope was her champion self and just loved looking around from the stroller and sleeping.

Kylee playing the painted piano.

Kylee, Tia, Gaupo, Kade, and Abby in the tornado tube

Kade drumming

Kylee

Gaupo

Tia

Grandma helping Kylee and Kade make tissue paper flowers

Eating lunch: Grandpa, Tia, Grandma, Abby, Kylee

Sunday we did church. Monday we went and got free ice cream cones at Dairy Queen and then went to Carr Park where they have a cool zipline swing thing that the kids like. The Bryce cousins joined us for a little while at the park and so that made it a little extra fun. Then we came home, but when we home I couldn't find my phone anywhere. I was pretty sure I left it at the park. My mom tried to track it on her phone and we thought it was at the park, but Lindsay couldn't find it. So, Gaupo, Grandma, Grandpa, and Tia went to look. At some point, my mom checked it again and it was in a parking lot a few places over. Gaupo took the crew their and it was a dentist office. So, Gaupo walks in and says we lost a phone and it says its here, do you have it? The receptionist is like, "uh, no." A lady overheard this conversation and said that her daughter had picked up the phone at the park and they took it with them so that someone else would pick it up and were waiting for someone to call it. Now, we had called it--several times, but they had left it in their car while in the dentist so hadn't answer. The lady was somewhat horrified that we could track my phone and which if you think about it is a little scary because if you pick up a phone hoping to return it and then someone can search out where you are. It is a little creepy. Anyway, it was a total miracle and an answer to many of the prayers I sent up because I really didn't want to have to buy a new phone.

At Dairy Queen for Free Cone Day

Grandpa took us to Wendy's for dinner

Tuesday, the highlight was Grandma and Grandpa watched all the kids so we could go to the temple. Gaupo and I got to do a session. It was so great to go be able to and do the endowment and see the changes and not have to worry about the kiddos because they were in good hands. It was really nice to go and be in the temple. I loved it. We got home and the kids were mattress sliding and loving mom and dad not being home. Hope was definitely hungry, but was patiently waiting for me. I am so grateful we got to go. I was pretty sure I wouldn't get to the temple for a session until June, so I feel so blessed.

Gaupo and Me at the temple

Wednesday Grandma and Grandpa had to leave, but that afternoon our friends Tori and Trent came over to play. The kids played good. Siri and I had a good chat. It was really, really good. 

Thursday was a cousin day. I had wanted to take the kids to the rec center, and they wanted to, but when they learned their cousins couldn't come they were pretty bummed. So, I said I can go get them and bring them here, but then we can't go swimming. That is what they wanted so I went and got the cousins (their car was in the shop) and then they played here until it was time to go to dance. Lindsay borrowed my car and took them all to dance and then Kylee and Tia went to their house after dance for dinner and a sleepover. While they were gone Kade, Abby, Gaupo and I had Jefe's which delicious Mexican takeout, and watch some Paw Patrol.

Outdoor lunch: Kylee, Betty, Tia, Abby, Roxy, Allen

Friday was our Aunt Kitt day. I picked up the big girls from the cousins and we went right to Kitt's house were we promptly went to the park. We played at a couple parks and then went to Kitt's for lunch and naps. During naps, Kitt and I got to chat and we made some gluten-free Levian Bakery cookies (thick, big, flavorful cookies). It was really fun and we did'nt get it quite right, so we will probably have to make them again with a couple modifications to the original recipe. Once that was done, we got dinner ready cared for the kiddos. Had dinner and then watch Motorcrossed. Its an old-ish one but I still like it and my kids did to. Kade liked the motorcycles and my girls loved the girl coming out on top. After the movie, we drove home to sleep in our own beds.

Tia feeding Hugh.

Just like that our break was over and it was really good and we still have places to go and things to see and do on another break.

Side Effects, Happenings, and Perfect Weather

 This week has been kind of a wonky one. I was in a bit of a funk for the first part of the week. I think it has to do with a hormone I was taking. I started it last Thursday to see if it would help with my bleeding and while it did I think help with that it caused some serious side effects. One was being easy to anger. My kids couldn't do anything right. They are by no means perfect but everything bad they did was like I wanted lash out irrationally at them. Also, I couldn't feel joy. Most days even the really bad ones there is a moment of joy something that went and felt right but on these days there were a ton of things that went right, yet Gaupo would ask me how my day was and I was like it feels crappy. I don't know why but I just cant feel happy. On Wednesday night, I decided that enough was enough and I needed to stop the hormone to see if it help. It was seriously a night and day difference. We were still late to school, but instead of being irate and panicked about it we just rolled with it and did the best we could. I could plan the activities I needed to work on, I got my dinner prepped in the afternoon, and once again I felt light. Even in the last couple days I have had some rough patches but I feel so much more lightened about it. It is like even though I still want to get angry its more of a choice and I can stop from acting in anger when I couldn't before. I can think ahead again. I don't know for me its like, well those hormones may help with my some womanly issues I am having, but it is destroying my relationships and me, so its not worth it. We will figure out something else. I have worked to hard at trying to be present, patient, organized, and building myself to stop now.

In other things this week, Tia had an orthodontist appointment that Guapo took her to. It didn't turn out well. They couldn't get the brackets that we needed on, so now we are waiting again for them to be made, so we can get her teeth moving again. It has been a slow, slow, somewhat agonizing process. I hope it is worth it. Kylee was sick on Monday, so sick she stayed home from school and went to the doctor. The rapid test they did, didn't return a result. Tuesday she was feeling better and went to school. However, about 10 I got a call telling me she was positive for strep, so I debated a lot about what to do. I picked up her meds, and then picked up her when I picked up the twins. She was pretty mad about having to come home, but she survived. I did let her go to the middle school parent meeting and instrument petting zoo, but made her wear a mask. Then there was  a 5th grade concert and activity days that I also let her attend but made sure she wore a mask. She wasn't happy about wearing a mask, but she didn't want to miss anything either. It was such a tricky day to be sick and I still am in debates about if we handled it right.

Kylee has a the green mask.

We finally, had a golden weather day yesterday. It was so nice outside. We took our first family bike ride as a family of 7. It was pretty fun. The twins are getting good on their bikes. It is probably time to take off the training wheels, I just don't have the time and weather to be consistent yet, so we will wait just a little longer. We rode to a nearby park and enjoyed playing their and Hope went done her first slide and scooted on her first playground equipment. Later Tia noticed out neighbor Isabella out and wanted to go out and ride with her. By the time, the night was said and done there were 7 kids in the backyard playing, we had talked to our neighbors who think we should have a block party (sounds great to me), and we had grill food for dinner. It was a much needed spring day with lots of good spontanious neighbor connections. I love that my neighborhood is getting more kids and that my kids are old enough to play its awesome.

Kylee is 11

Kylee turned 11 this week. I am so grateful for this girl. She has taught me so much and continues to teach me so much. She has really blossomed this past year and I love getting a glimpse of who she is becoming. She has found some good friends to hang out with out school--Charolette, Racheal, and Kierra. She is actively participating in student council, the before school choir, and being the oldest in primary. She said last week on my family chat, "It's kind of hard being the oldest in primary because you can't just dink around." I worried a lot about how this year would go with her cousin in young women and Kylee still in primary, but so far they have both been champs about it and a growing just the way they need to where they are. Kylee has also decided that she like reading. Her favorite books are the Harry Potter and Fablehaven series. She is a great sister. She has started taking on some babysitting roles here at home and though her siblings are still learning that when she is in charge they need to listen she is doing great and learning all kind of great things. She 'practices' being a babysitter by making our mac and cheese on Sunday's and reading to the twins when they will let her. She is doing well in school. She recently led her parent teacher conference and it was fun to hear her tell me about how she thought she was doing in school. At age 11, Kylee's favorite color is purple. Her favorite food is still tacos. She loves to 'dance' to music which she plays as often as she can in the CD player. She know where all her favorite songs are on the CD's and handles the discs and song like a pro to dance the ways she feel or wants to feel. She loves to play with her cousins and watch movies.

To celebrate her birthday, we started with presents and cream of wheat before scholl. Then we had the cousins over for tacos, pumpkin pie, and a movie. She loved her celebration and I think she felt very loved so it was a win.

Earlier this week, Kylee also received the Spirit of the Golden Fox award at school. It is given to only two .kids once a month: one in k-2 and the other is 3-5. This month Kylee was chosen. Her teacher said the following when she gave Kylee the award:

"Congratulations Kylee!! Kylee comes to school every single day with a smile on her ace and that smile is infectious. She is excited and ready to take on the day. Kylee is the perfect example of every one of our R.O.C.K.S. expectations. Kylee is respectful to adults and students. Kylee's outstanding  behavior shines each and everyday. She is willing to try any and all things even when she knows it's going to be hard. Kylee cares about our community. She keeps our classroom clean and organized. She can't walk past a piece of trash without picking it up. Kylee is kind to everyone and I mean everyone and that transfers to being safe. She takes car of her friends and always looks out for her safety and the safety of others. We talk daily about 5th graders being the leaders of the schoola dn Kylee is exactly the role model Fall River is proud to have."

I loved being at the assembly where she got this award and watching the teachers that got to know her and really rooted for her when things were hard. It was great to see them be excited for her. Kylee has had a lot of rough times at school with the work and friends and things, but she kept going, kept trying, and she has really made leaps and bound of progress in all areas and it was so great to see her recognized for it. I know most kids don't get recognized for all the work they do, but this time she did and I am so grateful because it just helped add to her confidence bucket. 

We sure are grateful for our Kylee girl.

Friends and Being An Aunt

Monday Kylee was invited over to a friends house from 10-4. We have never really had that opportunity happen before and Kylee was so excited. She had a great time with her friends. They did "sledding" on the stairs, played games, watch a movie, and enjoyed being together. It was so great to be able to send her to a house to play with people I knew she actually played with at school and were nice. Friends have been a struggle for Kylee to find and so it was a great opportunity for her to be able to go by herself and enjoy her friends. It was also an opportunity for the rest of us to figure out life without Kylee. It was weird knowing she wasn't at school, but other than that it wasn't too weird for me. However, I think it was for Tia. Those two do a lot of things together and have since Tia was born, so to know Kylee was at a friends and Tia was with us was a little weird and there were definitely points were Tia didn't quite know what to do with herself, but it also gave her time to do some 'big' sibling things she doesn't get to normally do like play a video game with dad and be the oldest in the pretend play the kids do.

Also on Monday, I finally got together with our neighbors and so the twins had a 'friend' over and so did I. Probably another reason why Tia was like "what am I supposed to do?" Anyway, it was so great to talk to my friend and for the twins (mainly Abby) to have a friend over. It was interesting to watch Abby interact with a friend and for them to figure out how to play. Then in turn watch how Kade handled that. Which, was pretty much playing when he wanted and doing his own thing when he didn't want to. Then Laura and I just got to chat. It is so nice to talk to someone else in a similar boat as me. We are definitely different and do different things, but both a mom to 10, 4, and newborns. Plus, she she believes in Christ and that she can pray and get answers and it was good. It was so good to connect. I really enjoyed it.

Another fun thing for me was Friday I got to run to Costco which is a rarity in itself, but I also shopped for Kitt while there and then ran out to her house to drop stuff off. I love being a sister. I always do, but Kitt is the first time I have had the chance to be supportive to a new mama and I love it. My baby is old enough that I have capacity to help her. Plus holding her new baby is so fun. I haven't ever really held anyone else's newborn and it is so peaceful. So, I brought soup for lunch, and supplies from Costco. We visited over lunch, put kiddos down for a nap (a short one for mine because we had to be back for the big girls), de-boned rotisserie chickens, and enjoyed each other. Man, I know Kitt is really having a hard time just with new baby stuff, but at the same time she is totally rocking it. Her boys are so lucky to have her and her to have them. I am also grateful for the reminder that its hard. Babies are wonderful and special, but they are hard. I am so grateful that I have a chance to be a big sister in this instance and enjoy taking care of my sister.  

I am learning more and more of this truth--I can't do it all exactly the way I want and every way I want, but what I can do is enough and I need to do what I can do. What I can do is still a blessing and I should use it because it is a gift. Sometimes more simply said "Better done than perfect."

Valentine's Day and Play Day

There is nothing quite like Valentine's Day at elementary school. It is electrifying with energy and excitement. I would actually argue that the energy vibe is even stronger than on Halloween. Most kids have their boxes that are homemade. I have noticed some are becoming store bought, but still mostly homemade and in all varieties from super amazing to just a box with stickers and everything in between. Then most kid have their valentines that to some extent they helped pick out or put together and they are so excited to share and receive. It was so fun at drop-off to walk around and see it all.

Oddly enough, as a family we don't do too much to celebrate. This year we bought a dozen doughnuts from Dunkin' Donuts. Everyone got to have 2. My two big girls and Gaupo ate both of theirs at breakfast. The twins and I ate one and then had the other later like at lunch. Gaupo had to work that night, so I fixed the kids their favorite of scrambled pancakes. Other 'fun' included me and Gaupo matching. I meant to get a picture but I didn't. Kylee and Tia had some valentines theme clothes they wore Kade tried, but he didn't have much to work with but did manage to find a shirt that said kindness on it. Abby just straight up didn't want to, so she didn't wear anything V-Day themed. I went and dug hope out some clothes with hearts. It was I felt like a pretty good day of celebration.

We did do a couple other fun things that I linked to Valentine's Day. One was buying Gaupo the ice cream, spinach, and candy he added to my grocery list. He got me flowers. Well, actually I jumped the gun and bought them for myself while I was at the store on Thursday night, but he swore he was going to so we will give the credit for my pretty flowers to him. Then we made fish taco's for a fancy lunch on Saturday.

The other highlight of the week was Friday. The kiddo's had a four-day weekended so we went out to the Blaylock's to visit them and Oma. I took all the kids with me and Gaupo took the day off work. Guapo stayed home and watched a couple movies, played games, and had a much needed day to himself while we went and played. I was pretty worried about how it would go because Kitt only had her baby like 3-ish weeks ago and the girls slept over at their cousins, so I wasn't sure if they would be cooperative enough for it to be a good day, but they did great. I did bring and audio book, a book, and some games to help with quiet time. But really, the kids played well with Jay when he was awake, the twins and Hope took naps, and the big girls played on their own for a bit during naptime. We managed to stay at Kitt's without driving her nuts until 5 at which time we left to get home to have dinner with Gaupo and a movie night. I love hanging out with my sisters and mom. It is just so good for the heart. 

Coaching and Ice Skating

This year I decided to make an investment in me. I had some free coaching sessions at the end of 2022 and it started to change me in so many good ways. I was doing fine, but there was so much I just felt like I couldn't do and having five kids really rocked my world and I wasn't sure how to straighten it out. My cousin is a wellness coach, but her foundation is that wellness is primarily our connection to others, ourselves, and God. Then food and nutrition is secondary. Anyway, long story short I loved that having someone on my side to talk with me, and help me see the ideas and make them happen. I saw such a great change in myself that I decided to hire her for another 12 coaching sessions and it is still changing me. The biggest thing that has happened is I am learning to better recognize how I receive personal revelation. I also love that its small and simple steps. Like starting this blog again. The goal is to blog, but if nothing else happens I start with bring the computer downstairs and turning it on. So, I am really short on time today, but I wanted to write this and then mention yesterday.

Another small change is getting out for a walk in the morning after I drop the kids off. Here is Hope on a cold morning when we did a super fast, short walk.

Yesterday, we went ice skating. We try to go once a year and this year was a big moment for us because Kylee and Tia could skate without help. They were not fast or graceful but it was all alone. Abby got on the ice this time. She didn't skate long, but she did get out and do it a little bit. Abby is our perfectionist so being not good at something is hard for her. Kade rocked it. He learned how to move the walker and was skating pretty fast, doing jumps, and loving it. Gaupo and I took turns skating or holding Hope. It was a fun end to a busy Saturday.

Abby

Kade

Tia

Kylee

Gaupo and Kade

Me and Hope

Abby and Gaupo

Watching the Zambonie after we were all done. Definitely the highlight for the kids.

Introducing Hope

 Hope is our baby number 5. She is so patient with this super chaotic family she came to join. She pretty much lets anyone hold, carry, and love on her. She still doesn't sleep through the night but is making gains towards getting there. She does have 2 teeth that popped through just after Thanksgiving. She uses them to bite her food and every now and again mom if I don't take the cues that she is done eating soon enough. Overall though, she is a very happy very chill baby. She is definitely our kid that was without a schedule the longest, eaten the most variety of foods by 6M, cries the least when tired, rarely gets grumpy when she doesn't need some thing, rolled back to front watching football on New Years Eve, and is just the perfect kiddo for us. I am so blessed to have her in our family.

Hope was born on July 21, 2022 at I think 2:45 in the morning. I don't remember the exact time or the details in the exact order because well she is now 6 1/2 months and I am just writing it down. She was an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, although two doctors did have to be present because they were concerned about her size and if she would deliver fine, but she did. I started labor on the 20th after losing my mucus plug sometime in the night. It took most of the day to really get the contractions going though most of the day I felt kind of funny. I was actually scheduled to be induced because I was over due by a day and I only had my mom for so long. However, the hospital called and said they didn't have room so I couldn't come in that night. Lo and behold Hope was ready to come room or not. We went to the hospital at about 11:00PM. I was at an 8 I believe and wanted an epidural. The anesthesiologist was in a c-section at the moment so I got the pleasure of waiting. However, he did come when he was done and on the second attempt he got the epidural in and I was out of pain by about 1:00. Once the epidural was all kicked in I had a little chance to breathe and enjoy for a bit but then they checked me again and I was at a 10, so the doc had time and for the first time I actually pushed a baby down. On all my other deliveries they just kind of waited for the baby to work its way down, but not this time. This time we pushed. We did probably like 3 sets of 3 pushes each. Then took a little break to kind of let Hope do some on her own. Then I probably did like another 3 sets of 3. Then the doc put on her like baby delivery clothes and got the room at all setup and the second doctor in and we did pushes to get the baby out. It took a couple of sets but out she came. I was given my beautiful 9 lb. 2 oz baby and I was like "Wow, I can tell you are big for a baby, but you are still so small." I couldn't believe she was here. I fed her, at some point got the epidural out, and all the things, and then fell asleep. When I woke up they moved us to the mother baby unit where our old nurse informed our new nurse we needed sleep we were not the people who stayed up late or pulled all nighters. It was pretty funny because she was right though since having Hope we consistently stay up later than we have previous to this time. The hospital stay was good and we enjoyed having our kids come meet their sister. Uncle Jack and Oma also came to welcome her too. I loved my time in the hospital for probably the first time ever. I loved that no one except Hope needed me and I could just love and cuddle and take my sweet time feeding her guilt free. It was such a treasured time because since coming home we have had to share each other with everyone else. I am so grateful for the bonding time we got in the hospital. 

Here is Hope

Isn't she just so cute

Kylee and Hope

Kade, Hope, Daddy

Abby, Hope, Daddy

Tia, Hope, Daddy

Oma and Hope

Kylee's note to me on my due date: "Have the baby. Love, Kylee"

Me and my first time being over due.