Sage Hills Elementary Christmas Sing

Sage Hills Elementary had their "Christmas Sing" today.  Each grade performed a Christmas song for the audience. Being able to watch these fun daytime performances make me so grateful I get to stay at home and attend them. 

Jake's 6th grade performance is here.

Michaela was in a chime choir.  The chimes are so neat and sound darling.  You can watch her performance here.  

Emily said she thought her performance was embarassing--probably because her elf ears fell off right when they started.  But she put them back on and continued performing.  You can watch her performance here.

East Coast trek--third week

Day 13 June 17th

Spent the day celebrating Father's Day.  Michaela made chocolate chip cookies and we had a steak and potatoes dinner.  We topped off the night with another noisy game of Settlers--Mike won.  Of course.

Day 14 June 18th

Woke up early to catch a ferry to Liberty Island and toured around the Statue of Liberty base.  Such a magnificent structure! Did you know the outer copper sheath is only as thick as two pennies?!

Rode the subway to New York City where we visited the 9/11 memorial, American Girl doll and Nintendo stores.  Everyone was too tired to continue so we stopped at a local grill and ate a delicious dinner and went back to camp.

The 9/11 memorial was another somber experience--particularly moving was viewing the wall of 3,000 pictures of those who died due to the terrorist attacks on that day 17 years ago.

Day 15 June 19th

Drove to College Park, Maryland just outside of Washington D.C.

Day 16 June 20th

Visited the National Archives to view the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights.  Visited the Museum of Natural History.

Day 17 June 21st

Visited the Air and Space Museum, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Vietnam War memorials.  Thought all our feet were going to fall off. Kids kept trying to get squirrels to get close to the wild but eerily tame squirrels by tricking them into thinking they had food.  But once the squirrels saw there was no food, they would sprint off.

East Coast trek--second week

Day 7 June 10th

Church with the Broadheads and we drove to Nauvoo, Illinois in the afternoon.  We saw lots of frogs in the campground pond and watched a tortoise try to bury himself in the dirt.  Played a noisy game of Settlers.  Mike played on all our sympathies frequently pointing out he had no place to continue building his cities because we had blocked him on all sides.  Well, guess what.  He won.  He always wins.  Always.  It's annoying.

Day 8 June 11

Met the Broadheads in historic Nauvoo.  Nauvoo was a city founded by the early LDS church in 1839.  They left the city in 1846 to head west.  Today, there are 30 historic sites from that time period such as a printing shop, homes, blacksmith shop, bakery, mercantile store and several hands on activities. Oh man, there is just so much!  In the printing shop we learned how they painstakingly placed the typeset to publish their weekly newspaper.  The blacksmith shop taught us how the Mormon pioneers made horsehoes, yokes, and covered wagons. One site taught us how they made rope and baked bread. We ended at the children's game site.  The kids used stilts, Jacob's ladder, climbing bears, spinning tops, stick pulls and whirly gigs.  Lots of laughter and competition were experienced.

Before the Broadhead's headed back to Iowa, we stopped at the Nauvoo Bakery for some tasty treats.  Sigh..then we said goodbye.  It's always sad.  However, but we are grateful we got to spend so much time with the Broadhead's.

Day 8 June 12th

Stopped at Carthage Jail, Illinois.  This is where the LDS church's founder was martyred along with his brother Hyrum.  It was a somber experience to stand in the room where four people defended their lives as a 200 member mob stormed the jail and shot and killed Hyrum and Joseph Smith.

That night, we camped outside Indianapolis.

Day 9 June 13th

Camped in Thompson, Ohio.  There was quite a bit for the kids to do, particularly a ginormous blown up jumping pad they wore themselves out on.  I caught up on laundry.

Day 10 June 14th

We decided to stop at Niagara Falls on our way to Palmyra, New York.  This made for our longest travel date yet, but it was so worth it!  We rode a boat to the base of the falls, got pretty wet and stood in wonder of the natural beauty of the three falls.

Got into Palmyra, New York after dark.

Day 11 June 15th

Visited the historic Joseph Smith family farm and homestead.  Walked in the sacred grove where Joseph Smith went to pray about which church he should join in 1820.

Day 12 June 16th

Drove to Plattekill, New York outside New York City.

East Coast Trek--the first week

   As our children have gotten older, and travel has become easier with them, we have always wanted to show them various parts of our beautiful country.  Before Caleb gets too old to want to spend time with us, we decided to travel towards the east coast.  As a family, we decided on all the places we wanted to visit.  Below, is our first week's summary of our month long adventure.

Day 1, June 4, 2018

Travelled to Rawlins, Wyoming.  We had the kids all excited to play in the pool on our arrival. The kids were dejected to find the pool cemented over. Dad saved the day by rounding them up and played "Lava Monster" on a playground smaller than one in our backyard.  Daddy made my up the game in a desperate effort to keep children's spirits high.  Caleb stayed with me in the trailer because he had sprained a toe badly the night before which made it difficult to walk.  I got dinner ready while Daddy and the younger three played and burned off energy.  We ate, bought a yummy ice cream treat at the camp store and went to bed.


Day 2, June 5 2018

I got up early to exercise with the dogs.  I hiked on some old ATV trails and let the dogs off leash.  Two deer watched us curiously from the distance.






Stopped in Spearfish, South Dakota.  Mike's grandma fed us a homemade dinner. And the kids enjoyed exploring the beautiful campground on their bikes.

Day 3, June 6,

Slept in and traveled to Mount Rushmore.  Ate lunch at a quaint cafe called "Cheyenne's crossing."  Mike ate there last year with his family after his grandfather's funeral and wanted us to see it.  I had fallen asleep en route to the cafe and woke up to us traveling on dirt roads. Mike declared we were not lost!  I began to question my decision to let him drive. Eventually, we did find the cafe and enjoyed a nice meal together.  Jake ate his first buffalo burger and Caleb had a navajo taco. The girls had mac and cheese and burgers.

That night, Carol and Mike's second cousin, Terry Burdick joined us for dinner at the campground.

We showered using the campground showers.  The girls wanted to head back to the trailer since they finished before I did and I said to go on ahead. I took my time in the shower, enjoying the hot water relaxing my muscles thinking that the girls were now cozy in their beds. 20 minutes later,  I came whistling back to the trailer through the dark night.  As I opened the trailer door, Mike said, "Where are the girls?"

"What do you mean, didn't they make it back here?"

"Nooo...."

I threw my toiletries down and sprinted off into the darkness with a towel on my head and Mike beside me.  Panic startled to swell inside as worst case scenarios ran through my mind.  They had
been lost for 20 minutes in the pitch dark, in an unknown place.  Mike shouted, "You run back to the showers in case they head back there. I'll start asking other campers if they have seen them."  I ran as
fast as I could in flip flops silently praying for their safety and telling myself to calm down.  As I rounded the corner of the shower building, I caught sight of two little girls huddled together in their pajamas with wide eyes.  I wrapped my arms around them and covered them in kisses.  They started exclaiming all at once, "We couldn't find our way back! Everything is so dark and looks different!  We are sorry we got lost! We kept looking and looking for our trailer, but we couldn't find it!"  I shushed them and reassured them they did nothing wrong.  I called Mike on his cell, "I've got them.  You were right they went back to the showers."

I tried to slow my beating heart as we walked hand in hand to our camping trailer.  I kept gently squeezing their little hands in mine.  I chided myself for putting them in danger.  But gratitude also replaced that guilt.  I was so very glad they were okay and at least found their way back to the showers.

Day 4 June 7th

We packed up and headed to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Day 5 June 8th

I got up early and took the dogs on a long walk.  30 minutes into the walk, I saw these luminous black clouds quickly coming towards us.  With the landscape being so flat, I could see the clouds miles away.  I bolted towards the campground.  Thoughts of sopping wet dog smell in the SUV while we traveled spurred me on.  Just as I slammed the trailer door shut and got leashes off the dogs, a torrential downpour hit.  Phew.  Unfortunately, that meant a soppy camp cleanup to get moving towards Waterloo, Iowa.

We rolled into Waterloo, Iowa around dinner time to see our dear friends, the Broadheads.  They moved in across the street from us in our first house in 2004.  Our kids are the same age.  Our kids went to nursery together and elementary school together until a few years ago.  Last year, the Broadheads moved to Iowa.  We have missed them!  It was hard to keep my tears back as we all hugged.  As it always is with true friends, it was like no time had passed. We ate dinner, the kids played and the parents talked until past the kids' bedtime.  It was hard to pull ourselves away.

Day 6 June 9th

We spent the morning renting kayaks and a paddleboat from the campground and rode around their pond.  Mike and I worked our legs off in the paddleboat.  Caleb ended up filling his kayak with water and it almost sunk.  We pulled him to shore in the paddleboat and emptied it.  My legs were kinda wobbly after that.

The Broadheads joined us in the afternoon.  The kids wore themselves kayaking, bike riding, playing and laughing.  I caught up laundry and talked to Katie, the Broadhead matriarch :-).  We had a yummy chili dinner and S'mores

Spring Break 2018

The kids had school off the first week of April, so Mike and I decided it was a great time to take our newly purchased camping trailer out for its maiden voyage.  We selected Moab, Utah--it was fairly close and a little warmer than our current climate.  Mike's parents decided to join us in our adventure and Mike's Aunt Sherrill also got to jump in on the fun.

Saturday night we colored Easter eggs.  Sunday morning the Easter bunny came and hid the kid's eggs and baskets.  Sunday night we had a yummy Easter ham, casserole, rolls and other delicious dishes.

Easter dinner

Monday we hiked to Corona Arch.  It is a large arch that isn't a part of Arches National Park, but beautiful and unique but less crowded.  

At one point in the hike, there were all these cairn markers.  People just keep adding a rock to a pile as they pass.

Tuesday we hiked to the ever popular, breathtaking Delicate Arch.

The whole gang under Delicate Arch

At the end of the Delicate hike are these petroglyphs

Wednesday, Mike had to work, so he headed home and the rest of us stayed.  Mike's Dad took me and the boys mountain biking.  Wow, what an adventure!  Our legs were sure wobbly and our bums rather tender after our four hour ride.  But we couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces. 

Taking a break and eatin' lunch in the back of Tim's truck

Our favorite trail.  Not too easy but not too difficult.

 Caleb and I rode the paved downhill trail into Moab to finish our adventure. Jake joined us at Arches.  Tim dropped him off and picked us up at the Moab city entrance.  

The paved bike trail had a speed limit!

At Moab city entrance

While on our adventure, the girls stayed home with Grandma Kessel and Great Aunt Sherrill.  They put on makeup, did each other's hair and played games.  This was just what Michaela loves!  She loves pampering, she loves all things girly.  But I know both girls loved it.  That night I taught the kids how to play the card game, "I Doubt It" or also known as "B.S."  That provided us with plenty of laughter.

 Mike had to work through Thursday, too, so the boys, Grandpa Kessel and I stayed at camp while the rest of the gang went in to shop the town and have a bite to eat.

Tim and Jake playing wiffle ball at camp

 Friday, Mike drove back to Moab and we hiked to Mill Creek Waterfall.  We were able to bring both dogs.  At the waterfall I really enjoyed watching the dogs frolic in the water.  Another group showed up with their dog and all three romped and splashed.  Cap was particularly funny as he stole other dogs' sticks, hauled a 10 foot branch to shore and pounced on Chewy every chance he could get. 

We had to cross the creek two or three times.  Daddy always carried the girls so they wouldn't have to get wet.

Jake is trying to act like the water isn't cold.  Caleb didn't try to hide how cold it was.

Cap hauling a 10 foot stick to shore

Saturday we packed up and came home.  Our first camping trip in our trailer was a success!  We had a few kinks, like our water heater didn't work and will be fixed this week.  But the campground had showers and I just boiled water to wash the dishes.  I was able to figure out how to bake in the trailer oven--made a yummy coffee cake.  We slept well.  The dogs were able to stay with us and we didn't have to worry about finding someone to watch them or pay for boarding.  We got to camp right next to Mike's family so the kids were able to go visit Grandma and Grandpa whenever they chose and we got to eat all our dinners together.

In June, we are planning to take a trip back east for 3-4 weeks to see LDS church history sites, Washington D.C., New York and to stop and see friends.  After having a successful week long stay in our trailer gets us excited for our extended vacation.  We learned a lot of what works and what we may need to modify or add to the trailer to make things more comfortable.  I also drove with the trailer on for the first time--it was a little stressful.  But Mike was a great coach and very encouraging and patient.  He will probably still do a lot of the driving and I will be the co-pilot helping navigate us and keeping the kids happy.  But at least I can now give him a break.  He isn't every really good at relaxing and sleeping while in the passenger seat anyway so we make a great team.  I just feel so safe when he drives! Maybe with more experience I will feel more confident....

See my pursed concentrating stressed out lips?

Life is too short

Today was a sad day.  Caleb sat in his third period class without a teacher for fifteen minutes wondering what was going on.  The principal and the junior high counselors walked in the room.  Through tears, the principal informed the class the reason Mr. Thornton, who is Caleb's favorite teacher, wasn't there was because he was killed in a car accident on his way to work.  Caleb sent me a flurry of texts.  

My heart broke as I thought about this teacher and the positive influence he had been in Caleb's life last year and was fortunate enough to get him again this year.  Mr. Thornton and his wife had finally been able to adopt a baby last year. At back to school night he was just beaming as he talked about it to others who stopped to congratulate him.  

I was prepared to have Caleb come home emotional, understandably.  But he came home in a rather stable mood.  I watched him, wondering when all of his emotions were going to come out.  He kept searching the internet for news articles about Mr. Thornton's accident.  I finally gently closed the laptop and encouraged him to focus his energy on something that would uplift him.  He kept himself busy doing chores and going to scouts.  He walked in the door from scouts, threw on his roller blades and took off with his friends.  

But tonight, as I perched on his bed to tell him good night, the tears slowly made their way down his face and he buried his face into my chest, "Why, Mom?  Why did he have to die?"  Tears sprang to my eyes as well as I held him.  

"He was such a light in my life, Mom...."

"And you know what the last thing I said to him was????"

"I'll pass.  I'll pass.  Why did I say that?  Every day Mr. Thornton has this hat and draws out a student's name to say something and I told him, 'I'll pass.'"  

More tears, more questions and more if only's:  If he had just left his house a few minutes earlier he wouldn't have been involved in the seven car pile up on the freeway.  Why didn't God protect him? Oh, Mom, his poor wife!  His son will never know him. Why didn't I ever tell Mr. Thornton what he meant to me and how much he has done for me?

Finally, through his tear stained face, Caleb asked quietly, "Will you sing to me, Mom?"  Of course I would sing to him!  I curled up next to him and wrapped my arms around him.  As I sang about the Savior and how he would abide with us, I felt such a sense of gratitude that I have this deep soul named Caleb in our lives.  I feel honored to go through life with him and watch as he navigates these treacherous adolescent years.  How I love him!  How I hope that I remember how quickly life can be taken and to enjoy each day that I get with Caleb and the three other marvelous spirits in our home!  I am ever so grateful for our knowledge that we have a Savior that has truly suffered more than all of us and in turn comforts us as we go through such trying times.  I know that He is there always.  Always.  I have felt this peace through my darkest moments in my life.  It is this knowledge that helps me find comfort that Mr. Thornton's wife will not be left comfortless during this unfathomable time.  

New School Year 2017

The summer is gone.  I am not sure how I feel about it.  Two weeks ago, I was pretty sad it was ending.  Last night, as I turned off the lights to go to bed, I felt a sense that summer is never long enough.  But today as I waved goodbye to the kids and chatted with other moms, I felt happy and ready to move forward.

In my morning prayer, I fervently asked Heavenly Father to protect each child.  I prayed that Jake would make more friends and learn to like going to Sage Hills.  I prayed for Caleb, and that specifically he would be cloaked and shielded from the yuck that can be found in the world.  I prayed that Emily would feel peace and confidence as she embarks on this new all day school adventure and that Michaela would have the courage to continue being the sweet, friendly girl she is and notice those that need her friendship.  I love these little persons that have been placed in Mike's and my care as they grow into adulthood.

Last night, as is tradition as each school year embarks, Mike gave each child a father's blessing. For more information, click here.  At first, I was feeling a little cranky because Mike and I had a tiff that morning.  I almost said, "Maybe we shouldn't do it tonight."  I was worried my attitude may get in the way.  However, I decided, perhaps I needed it more than anyone.  We opened our family home evening with prayer and song and a short lesson from Michaela.  Then, Mike gave a blessing to each child as directed by the Holy Ghost.  I felt such peace and warmth and love as Mike gave counsel, guidance, and invoked blessings particular to each child's circumstances.  Caleb's blessing focused on encouraging him to never shy away from who he is and to never be afraid to succeed.  There was no end to what he can accomplish, that there will be those who may try to stop him but to hold to the love of his family and to what he knows is right. Jacob's encouraged him to refrain from judging and be willing to learn and try new things and he will be a shining light and example to others and to have fun, to watch over his sisters and see to their safety.

Michaela's main message was to encourage her to reach out to those who are afraid and scared and she would be blessed to make new friends that would feel of her warmth and love.  As she worked hard she would continue to pick up her math.

Emily's was blessed to strengthen her friendships and that her wonderful personality would shine through and that she would find comfort in that.

I wish I could convey the immense love that filled the room among all of us.  I am so so grateful for Mike, for his goodness and how he leads our family.  That stupid tiff that had happened earlier in the day was forgotten and I was filled with gratitude that we all get to journey through life together. As a young girl I fretted that I wouldn't be able to have a family, that I wouldn't have the opportunity to be married or perhaps not have children. Or perhaps that if I did get married it wouldn't be happy and we would end in divorce.  I think most children worry about it--but I did particularly because of coming from a broken home. That's only natural.  But all of my dreams have come true and it is because I crossed paths with Michael Timothy Kessel.  I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that has solidifies our marriage and our relationships with our children.  It provides opportunities for us as a family like last night, that remind us of how much we love each other.  Hugs were given all around when we were finished, there was no squabbling.  It was a great way to start off the school year!

You can tell how much Emily was feeling the love.  This was her throughout everyone else's blessings.

First day of 8th grade for this guy

Emily is in 1st, Jake in 5th and Michaela in 4th.

Kids from the 'hood that walked together this morning.  Love where we live.

Birthdays, Retirement Party, School is out!

Since my last post, we have celebrated Caleb's 13th birthday, attended Tim Kessel's Department Retirement Party, attended an orchestra concert, dance recital, dance festival and welcomed the school-year's end.

Caleb took a group of friends to a space simulator for his birthday.  There was lots of planning and discussion about whether or not he wanted to invite girls to his party.  It was mostly revolved around one girl he has been friends with since second grade but knew he couldn't just invite her, so he selected two of her friends to come with her and four other guy friends.  When I picked them up from the space simulator, they chatted the whole way home about the experience.  They seemed to have a memorable time.

The next day, Mike and I headed down to California to attend his father's fire department retirement party.  It was magnificent to get away together just the two of us! We biked along the beach, went to the movies, slept in, played board games and just relaxed.  Many thanks to my mom who willingly stayed at home to watch the kids.  It was heartwarming to see the kids hold on to the car's passenger side as we were leaving for the trip asking me, "Mom, couldn't you just stay home and Dad could go?"  Oh, and to be woken up one morning  at 6 AM by a panicked teenager not able to find something for school made.  All this made me feel very loved and missed.  It's good for the kids and Mom to take a break from each other.

May was a busy end of school year time.  Caleb and Jake wrapped up their soccer seasons.  Caleb had his final orchestra concert.  He has done well in his first year at playing the violin.  He was made first chair of intermediate orchestra.  Pretty impressive.  The girls had their final dance recital.  We are so fortunate to have a talented dance instructor in our neighborhood.  She choreographs the dances and designs most of the costumes.  The girls have certainly enjoyed their first year of dance.

The elementary age kids had a dance festival at school.  It's always fun to watch them dance to pop music with their classes and teachers.  This year has been one of the kids' biggest adjustments with transferring schools.  Michaela has made the adjustment smoothly--in fact, it benefited her the most.  She flourished under Mrs. Wilbur's encouragement in math and mastered her multiplication facts and made several good friends.  Last year, there were lots and lots of tears shed over schoolwork between us.  Mike and I pondered and discussed a great deal about what to do and if we should transfer the kids to the neighborhood school and pull them out of Spanish. It was heart-wrenching for me to tell the kids, drop them off their first day; spend each night that first week wiping tears and holding them as they sorrowed over the adjustment.  Jake had a particularly difficult time and still mourns over it.  He was blessed with a good teacher this year, fortunately.  I pray that Jake will eventually understand that loving your children often involves making difficult decisions, even when you know that at first, it will cause some emotional pain but be better in the long run.

I digress.  Let's get back to what the Kessel family did these last six weeks. As I ran from activity to activity, I also put in more of our backyard landscaping.  Mike helped me dig eight tree holes.  What I could accomplish in one hour, he did in less than fifteen minutes.  Sigh.

The boys, desperate to get the dilapidated trampoline replaced, took the old one apart and put the new one up, ALL ON THEIR OWN.  I anxiously watched over my shoulder while they did it, and thought perhaps they were going to give up a few times, but they persevered and succeeded.

It is very important to me to help our children become independent, contributing members of society.  That is why I allowed them to dive in to the trampoline project.  They need to feel the sweet sense of accomplishment that comes from doing hard things.  That is also why I am going to have them cook one meal a week during the summer.  Caleb was the first one, starting today.  He made clam chowder and baking powder biscuits.  I stayed close by and jumped in when the milk was about to burn, but otherwise, he did most of it on his own and it was delicious.  I want them to feel confident about their ability to take care of themselves when they fly from the nest.  It is very rewarding, as a parent to watch them grow and to develop their abilities.

We have spent our first week of summer vacation.  It has been delicious.  It has been relaxing and there hasn't been too much sibling fighting.  I. LOVE. SUMMER. VACATION!  LOVE I-T!!! I love the laziness to do whatever and whenever we want as a family.  We eat breakfast late or early.  We sleep in.  We head to the pool.  We camp.  We hike.  We are just together.  It's the best.

And that, my folks, has been our last six or seven weeks.  I hope all of you have some relaxing, lazy summer plans, like us.  I am going to milk every last drop of this summer by just being.

Here are some pictures of our activities:

Celebrating Caleb's birthday.  Love all his freckles

The birthday party gang

Cap keeps me laughing every single day

Mike and I riding along the beach--it was so good for the soul

Funny pictures from the retirement party

Caleb's orchestra concert--he is directly left of the conductor.  It made my momma heart swell when he led the orchestra in tuning their instruments as first chair.

Some of Caleb's soccer team.  Wish I had gotten one of Jake's team. He had a great season, had some awesome saves as the keeper and really developed his footwork on the field.

Girls' dance recital.  Mike came right from the fire station.

Emily's school dance

Jake's school dance

Michaela's class dance

Our kindergarten graduate

For my birthday, Mike and I hiked up some of the Timpanogos trail--until we hit too much snow to continue on.

I had to take this picture because Mike was always in the lead, testing the snow, making footholds for me so I wouldn't slip down the mountain.  Sigh. I just love his guts so much.  I would follow him anywhere.

The boys' finished product! (See the two new trees off to the right?)

Caleb's homemade dinner--scrumptious