Fall Break 2014

 The kids have been out of school since Thursday.  Lovely Fall Break, we have had.  Thursday we took them to see the movie "Malificent."  Most of them liked it, but Jake was scared--which I was worried about.  I appreciated the moral of the story about learning to forgive and choose to love.  We ate way too much popcorn and then ate too much at Chuck-A-Rama after.  Missy started feeling ill while we were at the restaurant, don't know if it was from eating too much popcorn or if she got a little stomach bug.  

That night, Caleb and then Jake woke up complaining of nausea.  I had the boys sleep on the basement couch and I threw some cushions on the floor and slept next to them so that Mike could get a good night's sleep in our bedroom. He had a Trauma class to attend the next day and then had to head to the Tooele AirMed helicopter pad for the night.  The boys, consequently, were not feeling well all Friday--they played on their Kindle's and the girls and I hung out.  We played dolls in bed in the morning. I hauled the girls in the bike trailer along our city's bike trail for my workout before lunch.  They loved how fast they were going and we sang lots of songs along the way.  Later, I decided to put the girls in the van and meet Mike in Tooele to eat dinner with him.  We chose Cafe Rio, yum!  Can never go wrong with the Rio!  Then we hurried home and got everyone to bed.  Everyone felt much better the next day, fortunately, because we had Jones cousin family time.

Logan and Noah, Nate and Nikki's kids, were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It was a treat to see their sweet smiling faces after.  One of the LDS missionaries attending the service, asked Logan and Noah to express how they were feeling.  Tears spilled as Noah said, "I just feel really happy," and he choked up.  He doesn't get emotional very often and I could tell what being baptized meant to him.  Logan was next and she looked so grown up in this cute dress and cardigan and was just smiling from ear to ear as she said shrugging her shoulders, "I'm just so glad I finally got to be baptized!"  We sure love our cousins!  

We headed over to Nate and Nikki's afterward for dinner, games and S'mores.  Nate built a fire so we could have the scrumptious, gooey, S'mores.  They bought me some Rolos!  If you have never made a S'more with Rolos, you are certainly missing out.  Oh my goodness, it is D-I-V-I-N-E!  I know there will be Rolo S'mores in heaven.  I know it.

After S'mores, the kids played night games like "Ghost in the Graveyard."  The adults basked in their giggles and screams as they ran around getting scared and just enjoyed being together.  Truly, this is what family is about--just getting together and enjoying each other's company.

Mom agreed to watch Phil and Lisa's kids that night so they could have a much needed date night--they left after dinner.  I helped her get the three little ones ready for bed.  Man, just the twenty minutes of wrangling them into their jammies and brushing their teeth left me exhausted!  Lisa, I don't know how you do it day in and day out!  I have such a newfound respect for you!  

Mom, headed out to get Phil's kids to bed, and the rest of us finally wound down.  Naturally, the kids were all worn out and fell asleep on the way home.  

Today, Monday, Mike was back at the fire station, so I headed solo with the kids to Mrs. Cavanaugh's chocolate factory for a quick tour.  It was a nice diversion--mostly because of the delicious chocolate we got to sample.  At the end we bought some chocolates and ate some of their ice cream.  Why do I never learn and get Emily a bowl instead of a cone?  She is never able to eat the ice cream fast enough and it drips all over her. By the time I remember to get her a bowl she will be big enough to eat a cone without making a mess.

 Here are some cute pictures from today:

I'm a little sad to have our break come to a close.  But, Halloween is comin' up.  Gotta get all the kids costumes ready and then Grandpa and Grandma Kessel and Great Aunt Sherrill will be here, so we have that to look forward to!  

Ogden Temple Rededication

Because of the generous nature of my mom, Caleb and I were able to attend his first LDS temple dedication ceremony.  She drove the 60 miles from Syracuse to babysit the younger three children while I took Caleb to the Ogden Temple rededication services.  

I was a little worried that Caleb might be bored during the 90 minute service, but he said he wasn't and that he enjoyed it.  I felt peaceful and joyful that I could share this with him.  For 90 minutes I got to put my arm around him, scratch his back, and just show my love and be happy and grateful to be his mom.  I caught a glimpse of many years to come with this fine young man.  In less than two years he will have the opportunity to have the priesthood bestowed upon him and enter the temple for the first time.  Then there will be a mission and receiving his own endowments. Eventually we will witness as he kneels across the altar to be sealed to one of God's righteous young women.  He will be a great husband and father.  My heart swelled as I thought how blessed I am to be able to help him along his journey in life as he reaches each of these religious milestones.

It's interesting to me that Caleb and I often challenge each other on a variety of things, yet, it is with him, that I often feel a spiritual connection.  He is our deep thinker--the one who wants to know the why of everything.  (That is probably why we have conflicts!)  I need to cherish that more and remember days like today.  I pray so fervently that I can be an example to him and that he will continue to desire to be a righteous young man.  

When I realized it was in less than two years he would be twelve and would be able to go to the temple, I whispered this to him.  A grand smile spread across his face and he said, "I can't wait!"  I pray he always has that zeal.

Tonight was his night for me to sing to him in bed and scratch his back.  I chose, "I Love to See the Temple," among many other Primary favorites.  It was a perfect ending to this day with him.  How I love him!  Nothing is greater than being a mom.

Jake Turns 8!

A little over eight years ago, I was almost a week past my due date with our second child.  I had two more days to let the baby come on his own or I was going to have my second C-section and seal the fate of all my future deliveries.  To distract myself, I went minivan shopping.  I mean, "Why not?"  When I found one I liked, I dragged Mike down to the dealership. We test drove it, liked it and decided to sign papers.  I had started having a few contractions during the test drive.   While we waited to get the paperwork, I began pacing the waiting room, pausing every four to five minutes to breathe through the contractions.  I eventually went up to the clerk's desk and said, "I know you are probably already working as fast as you can, but I'm in labor and should probably be heading home to get my stuff together to go to the hospital.  Not sure what more you can do to speed things up, but thought ought you know our situation."  He sped it up and we drove our new van off the lot! A few hours later, we went to Labor and Delivery.  Progress was slow through the night and there was a critical point where Jake's heart monitor would start to do some crazy things the nurses and doctor didn't like.  I said a little prayer, "Please, please help him be okay and let us deliver vaginally."  His heart rate would only drop when I laid on my left side.  So I asked the doctor if I could stay on my right.  She allowed the nurses to mainly keep me in that position but would have them get me on my left side for a minute to keep the epidural effective on that side.

Almost 24 hours after arriving at the hospital, Jake came out with the chord wrapped around his neck.  The doctor quickly got him untangled and laid him on my chest.  He wasn't crying.  I panicked and shouted, "He's not breathing!  He's not breathing!  What's wrong?"  The nurse kept rubbing his back and he began to turn a beautiful pink.  She reassured me, "He's breathing, he's just not crying."  I began to sob uncontrollably.  I was gloriously happy that I had just had a "normal" delivery and avoided a painful C-section, and our baby boy was going to be okay.

Jake did not utter his first cry until almost 48 hours later.

Fast forward eight years.  I watched him sing during his school grandparents day program on Friday.  I loved his continuous smile as he just enjoyed singing his heart out.  My heart swelled and a few tears welled up in my eyes.  Those tears came from the knowledge that Jake came to us in a time where Mike and I were healing over a very hard two and half years.  Let me explain: We had become parents for the first time after a somewhat traumatic 2-day delivery.  Caleb had horrible colic for nine months, and I fell apart.  Mike had begun his career as a firefighter and we had moved to a new city--all major life changing events by themselves, but we had them all together in a span of one year.  During Caleb's second year, we pulled away from each other.  I think we both had to reassess what we really wanted and what we needed to do to get it or keep it.  Fortunately, we both realized we had what we wanted, we just needed to turn to each other and hold on.  When we found ourselves in a good place in our marriage, we decided to expand our family.

 Jake became a symbol to me that hearts and marriages can heal and grow into something more beautiful and grand than we can hope for. And so, yesterday, as I watched him smile up there on stage and move jauntily to the music, I welled up in gratitude for him.

Jake has been my monkey, my Bam Bam, my Jake Jake, my non-procrastinator, straight shooter, non-communicating, strong, loving, kind compassionate boy.

How grateful I am for him!  And what he brought to our lives after climbing a two and a half years Mount Everest journey as a family.  We love you so very much Jake, thank you for coming to our family.  Happy 8th birthday!

The Party

To celebrate, Jake asked for a Pokemon party.  These were the invitations:

I got to do my decorating thang:

Little side note:  Mike was still at work until two hours before the party began.  He is usually my decorating assistant and my level headed, keep your cool, don't stress out sidekick.  Without him, I found my level of stress skyrocketing.  Caleb noticed and stated, "So, if I help you get all the decorations put up, you will calm down?"  Yep.  So he dug in and helped.  Love that boy.

Mike had this great idea to ask the party participants to bring a stuffed animal (a.k.a. a Pokemon).  Upon arrival, they had to register the Pokemon by getting them weighed and measured.  Once this was complete, they were placed in a tournament. Here's Jake registering his Pokemon:

We took them to "Jake's gym" (the basement) so the trainers (party participants) and their Pokemon could battle it out.

Jake, the trainer, and his Pokemon, Blazekin, take on McKenna and Herdier: 

 (Mike was a great MC.  To some of you, Mike is this quiet, reserved, stoic fellow.  But he has many sides to him that when unleashed...well, let's just say, those sides blow you away.  Oscar performance, for sure.)

After the tournament, a surprise visit by Xerneas, a legendary Pokemon, left them all speechless.  (Caleb did such a good job acting out the part.  This was probably my favorite part of the whole party.)

Emily and her Pokemon, California Bunny, didn't back down from the undefeated Xerneas:

Jake requested to have two legendary Pokemon on his cake, Yveltal and Xerneas.  Lucky for us, a local grocery store will take a picture you print off the internet and print it on edible paper and plaster it to a cake.  So easy!

I think everyone had fun and Mike and I survived another party!  Really, it is a lot of fun, but also a little stressful trying to get it to all come together.  Next up, Michaela's Frozen party in November.  Stay tuned!

Keeping the Flame Alive

A lot of people tell me what a great relationship Mike and I have.  And I have to say it is due in large part to Mike and his thoughtfulness.  He often leaves me things like this before he goes to work:

First day of school 2014-2015

It's been 10 weeks since school ended and now school has begun again!  Crazy how life just keeps moving forward.

We have had a good summer, I think.  We took a trip to Lake Havasu, went on some fun family days throughout the summer, enjoyed our neighborhood pool and strengthened more friendships.  Our move to a new neighborhood has been a little hard, but each year it gets better as our children develop more and more friendships.  This last summer has shown all of us that meeting new people does not mean that our old friends are replaced, but that our lives only become richer with each new unique person that enters it.  

I'm excited for the new school year after meeting with all the teachers at yesterday's school open house.  I'm especially excited for Caleb to have Senor Smithee.  I have only heard wonderful things about him.  One of my favorite teachers in elementary was Mr. Timmons.  I sure wish more men would go into teaching.  Our children need them. 

Caleb is always anxious as the new year approaches, but after meeting Senor Smithee at the school open house, he was a little less so.   He was particularly sad to discover, however, that his best buddy, Boyd, was not in his class, yet again.  I just don't know if the stars are going to align to let them be in the same class despite that they are in the same Spanish Immersion program.  (The one girl he has always liked, Eliza, is in his class, though.  When I pointed out her name, he gave me a little side smile and a shrug.  Guess that wasn't enough to help him feel better.)  But, like I said, great teacher = great year.  Senor Smithee only speaks Spanish, always.  Caleb does well understanding spoken Spanish, but has a harder time trying speaking Spanish.   Having Senor Smithee is going to give Caleb plenty of practice!  Call it a premonition--but I just know this is going to be an epic year for my CK.  

I also learned that Jacob prefers to be called, "Jake."  Did you know that? Mrs. McPherson, his new teacher, asked him to write one thing down he wanted his whole class to know about him and he wrote, "I go by Jake."   I felt like the lamest mom when I said out loud, "You do?"  He just smiled and nodded.  "Hmph.  Well, then!  I guess I will let everyone know that.  But as for me, I will try to always call you, 'Jake,' but I can't make any promises.  Besides I call you lots of things: Jake Jake, Jacob, Bam Bam, Monkey...."  

This morning, Jacob, I mean, Jake, was just plain excited to go back to school.  However, he was worried for me, he said.  ""Cause, you're gonna miss me, I know."  Yep. 

One of the reasons for his excitement: lunch recess.  He had some elaborate plan about a game he was going to play with all his "girlfriends."   Basically, he is the sole male, and all his girlfriends chase him.  Not sure what he does to get them all under his spell--well, I do know.  It's his kindness, his funniness, his smile, his long dark eyelashes and his big bear hugs.  Who doesn't love our Jake?

Michaela is anxious about some funny things as the school year starts.  For example, she's worried she is going to do poorly in math.  Not really sure why, I keep talking to her and investigating, but for now, have not figured that out.  She is also worried she is going to misbehave.  In her words, "'Cause I always get so distracted.  You know, Mom."  I reassured her that her kindergarten teacher only had great things to say about her and that I was sure she would do great.  Funny girl.  She is growing in so many ways into such a compassionate conscientious young lady.  

Okay, well, I should probably feed me and the Squirt some lunch.  It's been a great day.  I got up and was able to get in a 4.5 mile run with the fur ball, not as long as I wanted, but I enjoyed the view of the lake through the light rain as we ran along the trail in the early morning dusk hours before the kids got up.

Now that the kids have been at school, I have most of the house picked up so I can dig in and do some heavy cleaning after being a little neglected this summer.   

And I need to end this post.  Really I do.  But I am avoiding getting off the couch--it's just so comfy.  Sigh.  Okay, here I go.  Oh, and here are some picts of this morning:

Love that their school does such a grand welcome back complete with the school's mascot, Hank the Hawk.

First Grade.  She's such a little lady--ALWAYS.  Note:  Caleb was an excellent older brother and made sure he helped Michaela find her spot to line up to go into the school.  I sure love him.

Second Grade.  Not sure if the onlooking girl has fallen under his spell yet.

Fifth Grade.  I hollered to Caleb to get him to look, but I think he feigned deafness.  I don't blame him.  He has a crazy mom.

And then it was just me and the Squirt.  I look lovely--post sweaty run.  I'm surprised she was willing to get this close to me.

Michaela insisted we bring Chewbacca along for the ride to school.  She was worried he would be lonely since they would be gone all day.

I let Squirt play with my phone to keep her entertained on the way home.  Aww...such loveliness is me.  

Later after I had showered and actually did my hair--I think Squirt wanted to document evidence that her mom does look decent at times.

I will follow him

Mike has started biking to work at Sandy Fire--24 miles one way.  I think it is just dang awesome!  Today I got up and met him halfway and rode with him.  I was able to take this snapshot and not crash--don't ask me how.  As I was pedaling and sweating and watching him, I kept thinking, "I am so lucky to be linked with this man.  I completely trust him and would follow him anywhere."

Just like the song, "I Will Follow Him."

I love him, I love him, I love him

And where he goes I'll follow, forever, and ever

And side by side together, I'll be with my true love

And share a thousand sunsets together beside him

I will follow him, follow him wherever he may go

There isn't an ocean too deep

A mountain so high it can keep, keep me away

Away from my love

I love him, I love him, I love him

And where he goes I'll follow, forever, and ever

And side by side together, I'll be with my true love

Miguel, a.k.a. Mike, I love you and look forward to many more sunrises, sunsets and bike rides with you!

Enisgn Peak, Farr's Ice Cream, Conference Center and Harry Potter

We started our day off by hiking with the kids up to Ensign Peak.  It's a peak that overlooks the Salt Lake Valley.  Brigham Young, who led the Mormon Pioneers to the Valley, stood there and surveyed the valley.  A monument stands there now, it's a short hike with a terrific view.  It has sentimental meaning to me and Mike.  It was on a hike to that peak together, that our courtship truly began.  We stood at the peak and talked, really talked to each other for the first time.  I decided on that hike that I would continue to get to know this large, strong, quiet man.

For our hike with the kids, we headed out early, right after breakfast.  The kids stayed in good spirits and loved looking out over the valley.  We pointed out LDS hospital where the boys were born, the University of Utah Medical Center where Daddy works, the LDS temple, the state capital and so on.

I just love this next picture because if you look close, you see Mike's bulging short pockets--they are holding both the girls' water bottles.  They were too tired to carry them, they said, Daddy, won't you please carry them for us?  Of course.  What are Daddy's for?  Daddy will always be their strength, steadying force in life.

Soon, Jake had enough of the beautiful view, and said, "Okay, so when do we get the ice cream?"  We had found this wonderful ice cream place on our last date and had told the kids we would go there after the hike.  Jake, always has his priorities straight.  We got to the ice cream shop and it was still closed so we sauntered over to the Church Office Building right across the street and got to the top.  But again, Jake as well as the other kids saw the view, sighed and said, "So can we get our ice cream now?"

We filled them full of hot dogs, chips and then ice cream. The scoops were ginormous! Which only Caleb could finish.  

We took a tour of the Conference Center after that.  I have always loved the Conference Center, but I learned it is the largest auditorium in the world.  Amazing.  Our tour guide was the sweetest older gentelman--talked to the kids, asked them all sorts of questions.  I might have liked him because he told us our kids were some of the best behaved kids.  

Tonight, I finished reading Harry Potter, book #1, with the kids and I tried to hide my quivering voice when I read: If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love.  He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark....to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.  It is in your very skin.

I am a tough cranky mom a lot to my kids.  But whenever they get afraid that I will die before they get to be adults, I have grabbed their heads in my hands and told them, "You will NEVER be alone.  I will never leave you.  I will be by your side, even in death.  You must always remember that. I will never stop being your mother."  

I love days like today.  I want to remember them always.  I loved being together.  It's so nice to slow down and just be together.  I LOVE OUR LITTLE FAMILY and the man that made it with me.

My boys still hold my hand on their own.