Ruckus' Bday

Cousin H lighting the bday breakfast soccer cake

Preparing to blow -
I think he may still be half asleep.

Dance Party

Okay, Cousin Megan may be the coolest mom ever - rockin' out with her kiddos.
Moo is bustin' a move in the plaid pjs.

Ruckus and Lou living it up.

Rock star in training.

Ruckus testing out his new bike.

Oh The Ruckster -

Happy 5th bday little one. We were in WA over your big day which was fine with you because partying with your cousins may be your favorite thing ever.... besides being a Rock Star. You have renamed yourself Coltstar of the World. Seriously. And you don't spell out the word star you draw the shape. Now, every time you see the star shape you say, "See Mom, just like my name". It

overjoys your little soul.

You truly love music. You are always humming or singing to yourself - either making up lyrics or practicing songs you know. This can cause a bit of a problem during sacrament meeting. The other week you were drawing quietly while the sacrament was being passed and I heard a little melody coming out of your mouth regarding The Transformers to the tune of Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam. So awesome and creative, just bad timing bud.

Everything is a big deal in your life. If you are happy- everyone is bound to notice your gleeful smile and laughter. You are a natural comedian and can crack up a crowd instantaneously.  If you are distraught - unfortunately the crowd disperses quickly - very quickly; ready to be rid of your howls. We're working on the whining/life is over howl.

You are a boy who just wants to have fun. You get along with other kids so, so well. You're a willing playmate and not a control freak when it comes to choosing the game or activity. You just want everybody to have a good time.

You love babies and little kids - you think they are adorable! You'll often say to Dad and I stuff like - "oh, you see that little kid - they are so cute." What a gift. To love little children so earnestly.

I was nervous for you to begin preschool this last year because you suffer with anxiety a bit in new settings so I shared this with your teacher. A couple weeks later she called me and said, "No anxiety issues present. In fact, he's the ring leader of the group - animated and ready to learn."

What a relief to this over worrying Mama.

The other week I was making 20 lbs of meatballs for our family reunion. You could tell I was a bit overwhelmed trying to get things accomplished while managing a household filled with children.

You asked me if I had a lot of stuff to do.

I said, Yes, mentioning these meatballs were the #1 task.

You replied  -  Well, that's why I'm here to help you Mom. What can I do?

You pulled up a large chair to the counter awaiting instruction. I grabbed a little less then a handful of the meatball batter and showed you how to roll it into a ball and place it on the pan.

I said, now it's your turn.

You looked at me with your big eyes and said - you want me to stick my hand in there and touch the meat?

Yep, it's easy. Just do it like this. (I demonstrated once again how to roll a meatball)

You stepped down from the chair and said - I'm sorry mom. I can't do it. That's disgusting. DISGUSTING.

It was funny. And I appreciated your original thought of service before the raw meat overwhelmed your senses. :)

You are a sweet boy and I love your sensitivity. There have been a few instances where TV shows said a bad word or seemed a little scary and you have told your older brothers to shut it off - that it is not appropriate. If you get nervous at night, your imagination running wild, you can be heard singing a church song from the top of your lungs. If that doesn't do the trick - you better believe you are taking any opportunity to sleep in your parents bed. You love to cuddle with us. And we secretly like to cuddle with you too. :)

I love you my sweet boy. You bring me such joy.

 

Love,

Mama



My Eldest Niece -

Natalie - how are you 18? 

I'm not ready for you to be an adult yet.

When you were first born - oh how I loved you.

You're stick straight hair, chub-i-fied everything, endearing personality - was so very precious to me.

And still is.

You're going to be an awesome grown up Nannie.

Graduation Day Photo Shoot:

With her spectacular Mama

Shannon and I posing in front of the vast collection of kitchen gadgets we gifted to her and her survival.
Why did we pose in front of it - that's kind of weird.

I think she's happy.
No, she was - I thinks she just thinks her aunts are crazy.

The card we bestowed upon her  -

or.... happy graduation.

I love ya!

Random Catch Up Photos

These funny boys decided to dress up one day and act like our servants. It was kind of great.

Little C and The Beloved playing a little game of catch

Ruckus surfing on the a/c unit

Little C crossing over into 11 year old scouts

Look at that wrist. Makes me proud Little Lou.

One day while driving I realized I was copying my mom's keen fashion sense -
turtle neck and overly large awkward sun glasses.
It made me laugh and miss her.

Moo wearing my earrings

"Mom, If Only you Had Four Arms...

Then you could feed the baby and make me lunch at the same time."

Hmmm.....

four arms.

I could get a lot done with four arms.

I started to day dream about life with double the upper body appendages.

Chore time cut in half.

Cooking dinner - cut in half.

Could I possibly cook dinner and do dishes at the same time?

Work out and brush my teeth  - AT THE SAME TIME.

I've always wanted somebody to brush my teeth for me.

It bugs me a bit to have to do that twice a day. 

(okay, I lied. Once a day.)

A second set of arms may make me less loathsome toward that necessity.

So many options....

restraining kids during sacrament meeting,

 being an amazing pianist,

drummer,

(talents I don't have now but maybe with four arms would desire to develop?)

I could cuddle more kiddos at the same time...

squeezing them lovingly in my abundance of arms. -

The possibilities were endlessly rolling in.

But maybe,

 multitasking isn't always wise.

It's possible that my busy arms would be a distraction from life. 

From loving. Enjoying. Serving.

I can see my brain (unfortunately) going a direction like this -

Wow, that person acts like they need help but really... they still have two arms available. Just hanging there, doing nothing. Hmmmm.... maybe someone needs to develop a better work ethic? Too bad.

Or maybe I wouldn't humble myself and ask for help - because for goodness sake -I have FOUR arms. I can should be able to do anything by myself. 

Constant anxiety attack.

And what if I didn't develop all of those glorious talents a quad armed person should?

The guilt.

The guilt my friends.

I decided my two arms are perfect. Simply perfect.

(not that I really had other options in life :)

And now you're prepared with some background knowledge on how to respond mentally when your toddler makes the four armed suggestion. Relief eh?

Then you can softly pull them in, using those two lovely arms, and say....

something really great and poetic that I couldn't for the life of me come up with. :)

Going Green.... Maybe Pink

For about a month I had a hot pink hair strip glued into my hair. (I know you're loving this mom :)

It was kind of fun to change things up for a bit and it was easy to conceal if necessary.

After I had, had enough of this vibrant hair color in my life I decided to try it out on my offspring. Some dug it, others humored me...and some definitely hated it.

Father's Day and The Beloved's B-day

He called me one day and said, "Thanks for my Father's Day present" - I hadn't given him one yet - but he felt like I desired to buy him a smoker, so he purchased it himself and than called sharing his gratitude. That guy. :)



I did however buy him a collage of his children. Which I know he loves almost as much as his smoker.

Modeling his bow tie he requested/was gifted for Father's Day.

 

Onto the Birthday -

The Beloved wanted vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Love the simplicity.

posing in front of his gifts with all his chillens'

Every b-day the kids each want a turn blowing out candles after the initial candles have been blown out by the bday person. This year we sang to The Beloved and then I gave each kid a cupcake with a candle, we sang Happy B-day again, and then we all blew out our candles together. It was kind of a fun new thing.

Oh The Beloved -

yes this year you get a letter too.

Why the pony tail my friend? :)

Why?

But that's what I kind of dig about you dog. People ask why you grew your hair out - simple answer - he wanted too. No specific reason. Just something to do.

I think it wasn't premeditated even - just one day you realized it was getting longer and you thought you'd go with it.

You're a funny human.

Remember that one time we were babysitting in the nursery during a relief society meeting and we didn't know one of the little kids names (he didn't know it either) so you renamed him Walter? And everyone  began referring to him as such and the amazing thing is - he responded.

They'd be like - Hey Walter.

And he'd reply - yes.

I think I was crying with laughter the whole evening.

Every day I can count on you for a laugh or some type of teasing.

Usually directed at yours truly. It's a good thing I'm the baby of my family and was trained for this because oh my word friend, you tease.

But I like our playful relationship.

What I don't like is the Tank Game.

(Mike, I know you read this blog.

Hate the Tank Game. You're grounded for the introduction.:)

What I do like is you and Little C bonding over the Tank game.

I think it's cute how he'll call you randomly throughout the day and you'll walk him through whatever military issue he is having.

My little fake soldiers. It's almost adorable.

Mostly though Jed  - I just wanted to tell you I love your guts. I don't want to be too overly sentimental because there are some who may throw up in their mouths. But truly, thanks for being my favorite pal for eternity.

Love you.

 

 

 

Spiritual Giant... that goes on and on and on.....

One night for Family Home Evening we had a little testimony meeting.

The Beloved began, then Ruckus, Moo, Me, Little C and finally Lou.

Lou was overcome with emotion from the very beginning of FHE and when he stood up to share his testimony the flood gates opened wide.

After about 20 minutes of baring his soul he said something like -

I am so thankful for my mom and dad and when they comfort me when I am sad.

Ruckus right on cue said - Um, I think you should comfort him right now.

:)

Instead of the parents taking over, Lou's three brothers went up and encircled him with love.

But after another twenty minutes of testifying they were ready for Lou's sermon to be done. 

Oh my gosh, so funny and tender. My little six year old is a spiritual giant and I love his big heart.

The Beloved and I told him kindly to wrap it up and his message eventually came to a close.

Later in the evening when we thought all of the kids were asleep, Lou tip toed up the stairs telling The Beloved and I there were just a few more things he'd like to share. :)

.... and 30 minutes later....

his testimony complete, he finally went to bed.

Easter 2014

Easter photo of the offspring - 

Little C and The Baby

Ruckus and The Baby

I'm the party pooper who spilled the beans about the Easter Bunny to my kiddos a LONG time ago. I just don't have it in me to falsify another holiday with an artificial creation that covers up something so important and dear - our Savior. The Atonement. 
(p.s. don't fret, kids still get Easter baskets. Never fear)
If we had a re-do at life I'd be smarter though and speak to The Beloved about this first.... because I didn't and... let's just say we rehash it a bit every year. Whoopsy. Sorry dog.
This year was a really special Easter. 
Individually we each chose a story of Jesus and took turns throughout the week sharing a moment of His life.
So cool and meaningful.
The Beloved shared the story of His resurrection and then later when He visited the Americas.
Little C - when He taught as a young boy.
Lou - The Crucifixion and a bit of the Atonement.
Ruckus - His baptism.
Moo - His birth.
To wrap it up I made a name tag for everyone with a list of some of their spiritual gifts and talents.
I wanted them to be reminded of the knowledge that Christ knows each of us individually and perfectly.
That in those moments when He may have felt alone -
when His apostles fell asleep,
His suffering in Gethsemane,
being betrayed by a close friend, His disciple, someone He loved -
when He was ridiculed and reviled,
 His physical agony felt upon the cross-
He was thinking of 
Us. 
He was thinking of Me, The Beloved, Little C, Lou, Ruckus, Moo,
The Baby and You.
He was alone and thought of us. 
He knew we were counting on Him - that we would come to Earth one day to experience life and He wanted us to find the greatest joy possible -
And in order for this to be accomplished we needed Him.
Such outstanding love is so comforting and unfathomable to me at the same time.
So, because He's perfect, He followed through with the plan.
He died for us and then miraculously rose again. 
He's so much cooler than the Easter Bunny  - 
any freaking day.


p.p.s. Just so you're not lead astray -
we're trying to take advantage of those gospel teaching moments -
but it doesn't mean we're perfect and it definitely doesn't mean that our 3 year old didn't throw a punch at Ruckus during sacrament meeting today.
Always a work in progress my friend.
Always.

Time for Change

Really simple, not hard to manage change -

H.A.I.R.

Conservative Little C kept it mostly the same except for a few added steps on the side.

Way to rock the 90s proudly - you're mom thinks your cool and that's way cooler than it sounds. Promise.

Little C

I talked, okay, maybe made - Ruckus and Lou get the Adam Levine haircut (not color - cause that's UG) aka the pompadour.

I'm loving it.

L.O.V.I.N.G.

Ruckus

Lou

Moo is still sporting his adorable toddler curls and Arrow is only vaguely aware that hair should be on the head to begin with - her's is growing in slowly - but her perfect round head supports bows like no other. Way to go girl! :)

Maybe the Cutest Humans Ever....

Rash Judgements

Yesterday my sister rose early, dashed her 7 year old off to school and then headed to the gym where she dropped her 2 yr old off in child care so she could cardio it up.

Afterward, sweaty and adorned in work out clothes, she hurried directly to her local grocery store, with daughter in tow, so she could participate in a Tuesday drawing they have.

Upon entering the store she observed an elderly couple who also, apparently, observed her. The woman turned to the man and loudly whispered,

"See, there's another one of "them" that doesn't care."

What the?

My sister, being cool, just laughed to herself and thought - seriously?

Oh the judgments we desire to make of each other.

So unfortunate.

Over three and a half years ago my little family had just moved back to Boise from IL.

Little C was 7, Lou 2 1/2, and Ruckus around 15 mos old.

I had recently found out I was pregnant with Moo and felt miserable, tired, and zero motivation to accomplish anything besides keeping my children alive.

The Beloved was traveling back and forth from IL to ID and was rarely home, which left the majority of the unpacking to yours truly.

Little C had signed up for scouts at school and was striving to get his Bobcat award.

After I picked him up from school one day he had approximately 

an hour and a half before scouts was scheduled to begin.

I couldn't bare the thought (that's really how it felt - COULD NOT BARE THE THOUGHT!) of going home and making a dinner I wouldn't want to eat (because nothing is satisfying to these taste buds my first trimester of pregnancy - which is super depressing to this food loving gal). I just wanted to sit down, enjoy my kids, and pay for someone else to serve me.

I decided to go to a family restaurant I had frequented as a kid called Raedean's. 

We sat down, ordered, and had a pretty pleasant meal. Little C and I looked over his scout book, he made goals, and I signed off a few things already accomplished.

Lou and Ruckus behaved pretty well. It definitely wasn't on my list of nightmare restaurant adventures, and trust me, I had a mental list going.

All of a sudden this disgusted elderly lady, followed by her spouse -was in my face, shaking her finger wildly - shouting -

You ruined our whole meal and every one's in the restaurant! You are a horrible mother! - allowing your family to be so disruptive!

In my day people took their children out when they were being so naughty.

I blame this all on your parents. They must have raised you with this low class behavior!

You are the reason I am not voting for the upcoming school bond.

Why should I support someone raising juvenile delinquents?

.......

and she went on, and on, and on.....

not letting me say a word. Every time I tried she'd stick her finger in my face and scream, "Now you listen to me!"

Little C was my hero, shaking his head the whole time declaring, "not true, that's not true."

When she finished I said - thank you for your kindness.

And when she walked around the corner to leave -

 I starting sobbing.

I had never been the recipient of such unkindness and harsh judgment.

I was ashamed I hadn't been able to jump to the defense of my sweet babies. 

Being a mother is the most important job in the world.

The most.

Nothing else can be so rewarding, joyful, heartbreaking and hard at the same time.

Sculpting humans into being something amazing - to be virtuous, hard working, filled with faith and charity - love -

that's my goal -

and I had basically just been told that I had failed.

As my head was laying in my hands on the table, trying to pull my composure together, an angel of a woman appeared at my side and said,

"You didn't bother us at all honey."

She looked around the table searching out the faces of my boys one by one.  Truly seeing them.

"You have three boys. Wow, what a blessing. They are wonderful and you are doing a good job.

Let me pay for your meal.

Don't worry about what she said."

She immediately took our bill and paid the amount due.

I was a speechless, tear streaming, snot running, hiccuping, thankful mess.

The server came up to me shortly afterward and said many of the other customers want you to know you hadn't bothered them in the least.

I stumbled over thank yous right and left as we were leaving Raedean's. 

Somehow we beat the enraged elderly woman to the parking lot.

As they were exiting the building we were preparing to get in our car and I noticed Lou picking up an impressive boulder and lobbing it at the red car next to us - it landed on the hood. 

Is this really happening right now?

I scrambled over to pull it off - making sure it left zero marks and then loaded my family in the car.

Red car amazingly enough belonged to the woman who is not so fond of my parenting skills.

Luckily  - she hadn't observed the trespass of my two year old.

Relief.

As I drove my thoughts wandered -
Firstly - Wow, she sucks as a person.

This woman had just spent her whole meal hating my family.

She became obsessed with creating a story of my life - past, present, and future.

We were working on scouting for goodness sake -

if she only knew my parents - how proper, good and respectable they are -

Can you imagine what a rant she would have gone on if she knew I was pregnant?

She knows nothing about my plate.

That sitting down at Raedean's had been a blessing to me.

To be able to chat with my kids, not have to cook or unpack, and to just enjoy these gifts that have been sent to me from heaven.

She didn't know I was exhausted.

Little C wanted me to drive back around and give her a piece of my mind.

I told him it was pointless. Some people are just determined to be miserable.

Plus, I don't know what's on her plate.

Maybe she's sick -

sad -

exhausted -

and all she wanted was to find peace during her meal and instead was intruded upon by the chatter of little children.

She obviously doesn't love the chatter of little children as I do.

I know the majority of things she said were untrue.

But it did make me more aware of how my children behave in public and I have tried to instill in them respect for those around us.

This experience also reminded me of the valuable lesson to not judge and to avoid irrational preconceived notations based upon my own thoughts.

Such a waste of time.

How much better the woman's time was spent who rushed to my side offering her comfort, reassurance and love.

She made the difference.

She's the person who made me want to be better -

not vice versa.