November 1-7 2016

As usual, the Kessel household hasn't slowed down this week. The girls had dance,  Grandma and Grandpa Kessel left, Jake had an orthodontist appointment, I had Relief Society presidency meeting, Mike and I attended the Sandy City Fire annual awards dinner, Caleb had a boy scout service campout and yesterday we celebrated Michaela's 9th birthday.

On Tuesday, G and G Kessel left after staying with us two weeks.  It often feels a little empty for a few days after they are gone.  I sure lucked out in the in-law department.

Thursday, Jake had an orthodontist appointment. We have seen four different orthodontists--each one suggested different ways to deal with some impacted teeth and Jake's small crossbite.  We like Dr. Watson the best and Jake starts treatment on November 8th. Dr. Watson isn't going to pull six teeth (as one orthodontist wanted to) and he is going to use a more gentle approach to fix the crossbite, watch the impacted teeth for six months and intervene if necessary.  He is also very affordable and just overall a great guy who isn't out to suck your wallet dry.  Very happy with him.

Friday night, I got a sitter since Caleb had his service campout and I headed to Mike's annual awards dinner.  It was nice to dress up all fancy and sit with my gorgeous husband in his class A uniform and mingle among his co-workers.

As I mentioned, Caleb had a service campout.  I'm so impressed with his church leaders.  They take a lot of time out of their lives to nurture these young men, strengthen their testimonies and provide opportunities for these boys to grow into honorable men.  And the leaders don't get paid a cent.  Caleb and his troop mowed lawns and pulled weeds all Saturday morning throughout our neighborhood.  Caleb ended up being the designated mower since he was one of the only ones that knew how to mow. He mowed five lawns and was pretty tuckered out Saturday afternoon!

Church was rejuvenating. I love attending church with our family, especially now that the kids are all older.  It was a challenge when they were toddlers, but I'm grateful I continued going even though it was difficult.  The kids have developed such a desire to go now.  This Sunday, during the second hour, I got to help Mike with his Primary class, he teaches 9 year olds.  The third church hour we had a powerful Relief Society lesson taught by my first counselor, Toni Shingleton.  She spent hours collecting pictures of all Relief Society members and then created a slide show set to the song, "Beautiful for Me."  Her message was all about God's love for each of us, that we need not to compare ourselves to others.  We are enough just as we are. I felt such peace and joy afterward.

Yesterday was also Michaela's birthday.  I loved being able to just focus on her and let her know how much we loved her.  She asked for crepes for breakfast and homemade Cafe Rio for dinner.

Michaela got roller blades from Grandpa and Grandma Kessel.  She is getting pretty good!

We went for a walk and she wanted to hold Cap's leash while she roller bladed.

The only problem is, Cap doesn't like to be away from me so he pulls back in an effort to get to me.  One time it caused Michaela to fall, unfortunately.  Guess we will have to wait for her to hold on to his leash.

At the awards banquet.  Doesn't he look awesome?!

Some crazy people smashed all our pumpkins Friday night.  We were pretty saddened by this.

But one of the neighbor boys ran over when he found out and cleaned it all up.  His sister brought over cookies and another neighbor dropped by Oreos to say she was sorry it happened to us.  How can I stay upset when there are so many kind people in the world?

Missy opening her birthday card.  She got a Lego set and some Easy Bake oven mixes.  She was pretty happy with them.

Captain Kessel, who often commands fire scenes, has to discipline firefighters and oversee fire training, isn't above teaching 9 year olds about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mike had no idea I took this picture.  He and I taught a children's class for two years together until I was asked to be the Relief Society president.  I miss teaching with him!  But I'm glad I get to still help out on occasion.  He's a great teacher and sure loves the kids.  I love watching him shine in this capacity.

Since Missy is going to have a friend's party this year next Saturday and will have a cake for that, we opted to have a simple treat on her birthday.  Chocolate donut and ice cream.

Caleb...he has turned into a teenager over night, it seems.  Both he and us, his parents, are learning everyday how to navigate through these uncharted waters.  (I'm sure glad I don't have to parent alone.  Mike keeps me balanced.) There is a lot of frustration for both parties involved, but the great new is, he keeps things fun, interesting and challenging and we are sure glad he is in our family.  As you can see in this picture, Cap doesn't mind Caleb's antics.  

And that my friends, was our week!

Of soccer, broken bones, performances, promotions and Halloween

Life just keeps on movin' here at the Kessel household!  Funny how time is, it just keeps moving whether you are ready for it to or not.  In the last month, we decorated the house for Halloween, attended our school carnival (a.k.a. Hogwarts Night), completed fall soccer season, had our first broken arm, attended Mike's captain's badge pinning ceremony, went to the Living Planet Aquarium with Kessel grandparents, watched the girls Halloween dance recital, attended stake conference and went trick or treating.

It's been such a fun and happy month.  Fall is my favorite time of year and Halloween just might be my most favoritest holiday. 

Miggy putting up my bats

Michaela has joined the school choir (and is loving it) and performed at Hogwarts Night.

Emily with her teacher at Hogwarts Night.  We love Mrs. Thill!

Attending the boys' last soccer games wore Cap out.

Two days after Jake's last soccer game he was playing goalkeeper in our backyard, blocked a shot and suffered a right radial buckle fracture. Only four weeks in a cast, then two weeks of being careful.  No bike riding, pogo sticking, skateboarding, scootering and trampoline jumping for six weeks.  Kinda tough for our active, no fear child.  He can, however, still play soccer with the cast.

Mike and I had the opportunity to attend the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team game against Switzerland.  It was a blast!

Our selfie.  We also got on the Megatron and kissed for the audience to see.

Caleb had a mini concert for orchestra.  They are working super hard. 

(Caleb is in the far left.)

I'm excited to see their Christmas concert.

Living Planet Aquarium

Just because these two make us all so happy.  

How can you not smile when you look at this photo?!

Mike being sworn in as captain at a Sandy City council meeting

Me pinning on his captain's badge.

Retired captain and newly sworn in captain.  

Grateful Mike's parents were here visiting and got to attend the ceremony.

Me and the Cap'

At the girls' recital.  It so fun to watch!

Emily: black cat; Michaela: vampire

The day before Halloween, I was asked to speak at Stake Conference--a large church meeting comprising of about 5000 people from our area.  I was pretty nervous (thankfully, I didn't faint) but it was a great honor to be able to do this.  Mike, the kids, and my Mom came early and had good seats (thanks to my Mom) and the kids behaved very well throughout the two hour meeting.  It was a day filled with joy.  I am so grateful for our family--for our faith and the peace and focus it brings to our lives.

Stake Conference Flyer

Emily, our black cat, in the school Halloween parade. 

Michaela in the school parade.  

She said she wasn't allowed to stop for pictures.

She was a vampire because she is too old for princesses now.

Jake in the parade, giving high five's, of course.  So, Jake.  

He is Link from Zelda.

Caleb, a mummy.  The first year he didn't trick or treat with us but went with his friends.

I'm a little sad about this rite of passage.  It's all happening too fast.

Let me divert here for a moment.  Mike and I are terribly proud of this young man and the friends he has chosen to associate with.  They were invited to a party where some of the other kids didn't make the best choice.  Caleb and two friends stood up and told them they weren't going to join in and walked away.  Caleb and these two friends were then wrongfully accused of joining in, but went back to the people that accused them and apologized all on their own to help the situation be resolved.  How can I not feel hopeful about our future generation when I know that these boys are going to be in it?

Uncle Phil and Aunt Lisa and kids joined us this year.

Jake and cousin Harrison.

Trick or treating at the Fullmer's house.

As you can see, it was a month packed with lots of activities.  All the kids are doing well in school.  We switched elementary schools this year to simplify our lives so we didn't spend so much time in the car and on homework.  I still feel good about the change even though it's difficult to leave such good friends and faculty at Harvest.  I often remind myself, when we say "No" to one activity we are always saying "Yes" to something else.  In this case, we said to "No" to learning Spanish and "Yes" to developing our roots deeper in our neighborhood, "Yes" to less stress, "Yes" to being able to do other extracurricular activities and thus greater happiness.  I'm grateful for our extended family on both sides. Their love and support are what makes our lives that much richer.  Glad that Tim and Diane could come and spend two weeks with us.  They are always such a great help. We hope everyone had a marvelous Halloween!

Once upon a time, there was a crazy lady who decided to marry a firefighter and have four kids.  She was so crazy, she also decided, even though her husband had to work days in a row, that she could enroll their kids in dance, soccer, piano, etc. and still get all the kids to their respective extracurricular activities, on time, all by herself while said husband was off saving lives.

Today, this crazy lady, needed to take the three older kids to a piano recital by herself.  To make it work with all the other activities the kids had going on, she fed the dogs early, put the puppy in his crate, packed recital clothes, piano books and dinner into the van.  Off she went, with her two boys, stopping briefly to pick up her two daughters at two different places, handed each their dinners and headed to the freeway to get to the recital hall, ON TIME.

Halfway there, the youngest daughter, Emily said, "Mommy, my tummy doesn't feel so good..."

"Oh, no, you poor thing!  Lay your head back and close your eyes," the crazy lady suggested, hoping her daughter was just carsick.  Soon, the crazy lady in her big red van pulled up to the recital hall 15 minutes early so the girls could change into their dressy clothes.  After one final inspection, with everyone looking presentable, they marched into the hall.

They found a seat halfway to the stage and plunked down.  The crazy lady was so happy that she had arrived on time and everyone looked nice.  This was going to be grand.  "Mommy, you will record our songs so Daddy can view our performance later, right?"

"Of course, love, I've got my handy dandy iPhone all ready to go!"

"Hey, Mom!  Guess what?  My teacher put my performance last because she thought my song was so good!  She told me so at my last lessons.  Isn't that awesome?"  the crazy lady's eldest song, Caleb, whispered as the first performer began.  Four more performers played their pieces, and the crazy lady's oldest daughter was seventh in line.  In the middle of the sixth performance, Emily crawled over to the crazy lady and whispered loudly, "Mommy, I think I need to throw up!"

The crazy lady quickly stood up, breaking concert etiquette, doing this mid-performance, and rushed her daughter out of the recital hall and into the nearest bathroom.  False alarm, no emesis.  They slipped quietly back into the performing area to hear the oldest daughter, Michaela, plunk out, "Tomorrow" from Annie, and Jake, the second son's performance of "Spanish Caballaro."  All the while, the crazy lady kept watching Emily to see if she was okay.  The crazy lady, looked over the program, only five more performances to go, would her daughter make it the end so the crazy lady could listen to her oldest son's AMAZING performance???

One song, two songs, three, four and five.  Caleb slowly sauntered on stage, took a deep breath and sat down, back straight and began his piece.  Tears welled up in the crazy lady's eyes as she watched this young man perform a fairly difficult piece well.  How was it that he was so tall?  When did he grow so much?  Oops, only one slight mistake, still doing wonderfully.  Then, Emily gently grabbed the crazy lady's hand and said, "Mommy, I really gottsta throw up now!"  and the heaving started.  The crazy lady ran her daughter toward the nearest garbage can but the vomiting came before they reached it.  Fortunately, the crazy lady
was able to catch some of it in her hand and shield the other onlookers.  Both hunched over the garbage can, the crazy lady held her left hand over it to let the vomit slide off her arm and into the receptacle, while Emily held both sides of the can as she heaved over and over again.  When the heaving stopped, Emily whispered loudly, "Okay, Mommy, I'm done.  We can go sit back down now."  However, they couldn't because the crazy lady's arm was covered in throw up and there was vomit on Emily's dress.  So they both stayed hunched over the garbage can to hear the last few minutes of Caleb's song.  He performed beautifully, and finished strong.  The crazy lady, wishing she could clap louder than anyone else, quickly picked up the garbage can, pushed the door open with one foot and got her daughter to the bathroom across the hall.  When all vomit was cleaned up with soap and water, mom and daughter waited outside in the hall.  "Mommy, my tummy feels so much better now!"  Emily smiled to her mother. The crazy lady managed a weak smile back.

The three older children burst through the door, Caleb was the first to look in panic at his crazy mother and exclaim, "You missed my performance?!  I've been working on that song for five months!"  The crazy lady quickly interrupted his tirade, "Oh, but I didn't!  I heard every note to the final big chord!  You did amazing! I stayed with Emily by the door while she threw up and then quickly exited so the 50 other people in the recital hall didn't have to smell it."

"But you left your phone to record with Michaela and your phone ran out of storage space so you didn't even get my performance recorded for Dad!" the eldest son said in despair.

Sighing, the crazy lady helped her pale youngest daughter up the stairs and out into the van.  After buckling her seat belt, she turned to her eldest son, "I am really sorry about your video recording.  I stayed through the entire thing, though, even though my left arm was covered in throw up.  That means something, right?"

"I guess so," the tweenager son mumbled as he slouched in his seat and looked out the window into the dark night as they pulled out of the parking lot.

As the crazy lady drove home, she kept shaking her head at the hilarity of the day.  One day her son would understand her sacrifices and know that during his stupendous performance, she was performing pretty stupendously as well.

Stewart Falls 2016

Today was quite a day!

We decided to hike one of our favorite hikes, Stewart Falls.  When we turned off to get there, the road was closed due to a truck rollover.  We decided to get there another way which put us behind about an hour.  However, the drive was beautiful.  The last time we did this hike, we got there around dinner time, and it was shady the whole way, not a lot of people, it was sublime.  Today, we got there close to lunch time, we got one of the last two parking spaces and the high reached 102! 

We made decent time getting to the falls.  We brought the dogs.  Chewy loved it, Cap tuckered out about 1/2 a mile in.  We had anticipated this, so we picked him up and plopped him in to Mike's pack.  

Cap wasn't so sure about this, and would frequently whine for me.  I would reach back and pet him to reassure him.

Reaching the falls was such a nice reward.  We cooled off, ate our lunch and Chewy plopped right into the creek.  Cap was okay with the water.  I poured the icy mountain water over his body to cool him since he didn't seem to think laying in the water was a good idea.  

As we hiked out, a lady approached Mike, and said, "I'm really worried about my friend.  I think she might be having heat stroke."  I don't know why she felt comfortable approaching complete strangers and why she chose us.  There were a lot of people on the trail.  We rushed over to her, gave her some of our water, urged her to eat the kids' applesauce they didn't eat for lunch and a fresh apple.  Mike coaxed her to stand, she took two steps and almost collapsed.  Bit by bit we climbed, but it soon became obvious she was too weak to finish the hike.  I informed the ladies that Mike was a paramedic and that they were in good hands.  I rounded the kids and the dogs up, and Mike and I decided it was best for him to stay with the ladies and I finish the hike and get the kids and the dogs to the van where they could get cool. 

Soon after I left, Mike called me and we decided, the lady would be best served by having the Search and Rescue come get her.  He called dispatch, and I crept along with the kids.  Soon, our water was gone. The high noon sun beat down on us.  The trail dust clung to our sweaty bodies.  Cap kept his head poked out of the backpack, but was content to lick me and let me know how happy he was I wasn't making him walk.  Chewy began to overheat, and every few minutes, gingerly crawled into bushes and plopped down and refused to move.  No amount of coaxing was going to get him to come out until he had cooled off enough to move.  An older couple saw me trying to gently urge him and they offered me a water bottle, which Chewy gulped down and popped up ready to go.  Minute by minute we crawled along.  I began to worry I might just have to find a shady spot and wait for Mike to come so he could carry Chewy's seventy five pound frame down from the mountain.  The kids were the best.  I was so pleased with their attitude in spite of being so very hot and needing more water in the 102 degree weather.  I also worried about the woman Mike had stopped to help, and I often offered prayers on her behalf.  Then I would offer prayers for Chewy, that he would understand the only way we could get him more water was to get down the mountain.  

In spite of the sweat, dripping down my face and back, I still marveled at the natural beauty.

I love Squirt's facial expression here.  She was adamantly telling me something.

Our beautiful princess got my overheat, non sweating gene.  She turns so red when she is hot.

One of our million stops we had to take so Chewy could rest.

(I didn't realize how filthy I was until I got into the van, yek.)

Thank goodness we eventually made it to a water spigot and the dogs drank and drank and drank some more.  The children refilled their water bottles and swigged down the cool water.  Jake asked, "Hey, Mom, will you toss me the van keys, and I can start the van so it will began to cool off?" It hit me, I never thought to ask Mike for the van keys!

We found a shady picnic table and waited.  It wasn't too much longer, when their strong daddy came jogging down the trail.  He had waited for the Search and Rescue team and when he was confident that the lady was in good hands, he ran to meet us.  Everyone jumped in the van, and we headed for a well deserved ice cream treat.

(So very much dirt!  And do you know what bugs me the most?  Mike's face, hands and pants were spotless.  How?  How?)

As I look back on today, my heart is filled to almost bursting.  First, I am so grateful for my husband.  He is strong, he is kind, he makes you feel safe.  I knew that lady felt safe because he was with her.   I am glad we crossed her path today to help her.

Second, I am grateful for our kids and their strength.  They surprised me today and I'm glad!  I sure love them and am overjoyed they are ours.

Third, my hip was strong today.  Even carrying the 10 pound puppy down the mountain, it did well.  It is so invogorating to be able to do the things I love with my family again!

And fourth, even though today we made a great memory together, I felt the hole that was left by Caleb's absence.  He is on a scout backpacking trip until tomorrow.  I really don't know how I am going to do it when my kids start leaving the nest.  I think I will start buying up empty lots in our neighborhood so each of them can build their homes and stay close by.

I received this photo in my email today.  The scouts reached King's Peak.  Caleb is in the blue jacket and blue hood.  I am so grateful for his leaders, they truly are the best.

What's new

School will be out in FIVE days.  Yes, that's right, five days.  And hopefully life will settle down a little.  

I haven't done super great with keeping our family blog up to date.  C'est la vie!

Caleb received the "Hope of America" award.  One boy and one girl from each sixth grade class is selected by their teacher based on their academic excellence, morals and leadership qualities.  It was quite an honor for him.  Such a great kid.  

Soccer for both boys has ended for the year.  The boys have worked very hard and play soccer in the morning before school, play soccer when they get home and on weekends.  They LOVE IT!  Jake's assistant coach is also an Orem City fire captain.  He invited the team members and their families to his fire station, gave rides to all the kids and let them squirt the fire hose.

My hip is getting stronger and I have been testing its limits.  I went on a hike for the first time and it was WONDERFUL!  I just have to say, Mike has pushed me gently and encouraged me to overcome my fears.  I can tell my hip is not 100 percent yet, and it scares me.  It scares me because I am worried I will do something that will make it hurt and I will be in too much pain to carry out my daily duties.  However, if I don't push the limits a little, it won't get stronger.  The key is knowing what is too much.  Most of what I have to overcome now is from scar tissue and muscle loss.  I played kickball for the first time, and my inner thigh muscle cramped up on me.  I had to stop, stretch, and slowly move around to get the spasm to quiet down.  I strive to stay hopeful and realistic.  I've started running on the treadmill and it's going fairly well.  

I also went on a bike ride for the first time.  The girls and I were home while the boys were at soccer practice with Mike.  The girls suggested we go take a ride by the Jordan River.  I was nervous, but decided I needed to do it.  We didn't go far. Just about a mile.  The girls stopped and threw rocks and sticks.  Eventually, I caved and let Chewbacca dive in after he nuzzled my hand, whimpering.  

When Chewy got out of the water, he thought the girls' oranges were tennis balls and wanted to fetch them.  Emily tried to put him in his place.

Being the Relief Society president of the group of women in my ward has taught me so much.  I have learned humility and patience and love.  Women in my neighborhood carry such heavy burdens and sometimes, I weep at night for them.  I pray for them.  Sometimes, well, frequently, I worry I am not doing enough.  But life to a mom of four growing children also keeps me busy and then I worry I am not doing enough for the children and on and on it goes.  However, I am learning to stop and say, "I am doing my best and that's all I can do."  I learn so very much from everyone in my life.  I serve with two wonderful counselors and two secretaries that do all they can to lighten the load.  We work well together and I sure love them!

Mike is doing well.  He is such an example to me with his undying optimism.  There are moments when I say, "It's just not fair that he had to have three heart stents at age thirty six."  But he often reminds me, "What's the point?"  He watches what he eats, he works out like crazy, CRAZY! And he works hard at his two jobs.  We had a small scare about a month ago.  He was feeling pressure while he was working out so off to the ER he went because the only way he can truly rule out heart issues is to have blood work done.  The labs came back in the normal range and he hasn't had a repeat of symptons.  

The last year has certainly taught me and Mike that life is so very short and each day is a gift.  The trick is remembering this lesson when life gets busy and stressful. 

Remember

I've been feeling a little down lately.  Maybe not just a little.  It's been difficult to stay motivated to do those things I know I should be doing.  Today reminded me that I need to keep going, to keep fighting, to keep serving.  There's this "voice" that says to me over and over again, "You have nothing left to give.  You are burned out.  You just need to lay down and watch a movie."  I didn't feel like going to church today.  But I pulled myself out of bed, got the kids ready.  One of them particularly didn't want to go, "I'm not going!"  Me, "Okay.  We are leaving in 10 minutes."  A stomped foot and then, "Well, I'm not going to get my church clothes on!"  Me, "Okay.  Well...I need to finish getting ready."  I got ready, and eventually, this child was dressed.  Her hair wasn't done, but she had a dress on.  We got there on time.  During sacrament meeting, the kids were fairly good.  One of the things I love about sacrament is that the kids love for me to touch them.  They love for me to scratch their back, or put my arms around them, or sit in my lap.  

During the second hour, I received a text from Mike to call him.  He never texts me during church while he is working.  So, I rushed outside, called and found out he was in the hospital.  He had some chest pressure while he was working out.  In order to check it out, he had his crew bring him in.  I pulled Caleb out of class, he agreed to walk all the kids home when church was over and call me at the hospital.  I called my mom.  She agreed to come help the kids when she got home as well.  

Blood work was performed on Mike to test his heart enzymes.  And we waited.  While we waited, I received an email from someone who was suffering and lashed out at me.  My first impulse was to be angry, but then, I calmed down and realized this person was really hurting and needed me to reach out to them.  I sent out a few texts to some people who could assist.  It helped me stay distracted.  

The nurse came to draw more blood and asked me, "Do you work or do you just stay at home?"  It took me by surprise, and made me feel a little insignificant, but I said, "I stay at home."  Mike quickly cut in and said, "She used to be a science teacher.  She taught junior high, then worked for BYU and Western Governors University."  My man!  Sure love him and how he sticks up for me and supports me.

Eventually, after six hours, Mike was released and was asked to follow up with his cardiologist.  

When I reached home, the kids swarmed around me, kissing and hugging me, "I missed you, Mommy!!!"  Chewy stood right by my side, nuzzling and licking my hand.  My mom hugged me and left.  As I went around the house to turn off lights, and watched the kids sleep, I realized how blessed I am.   I almost found a reason not to get out of bed this morning.  However, I got to hold my Emily in my lap during sacrament meeting and cover her with kisses.  I got to scratch Caleb's back, play a quiet game with Michaela and put my arms around Jake during Sacrament.  I also got to support my husband in time of need.  I have a mom who is willing to drop everything and come to my aid, over and over and over again!  I have a husband who cheers for me and stands up for me even when he is in a hospital bed with an IV in his arm.

Therefore, I need to keep getting up each day.  There are too many lives I can help and impact.  I'm thankful for this day and all that it helped me remember all that I have been given.  I felt Heavenly Father's love wrap around me and remind me that life is good.  People are good.