Summer 2014: Summer Plans & The Week Before

It is months later.  I am now in England.  And I am trying to finish this. It is harder than I expected it to be, but still I will do it. 

Six kids in school and extra-curriculare activities (including the pre-schoolers) + a move from Biloxi to England + participation in the Hill Cumorah pageant + extended family visits in Utah and Kentucky = a complicated calendar.  At one point I wasn't sure we could manage it all.  I am still not quite sure we did.  Even in hindsight it is all a blur.

The end of the school year is always hectic.  Concerts, performances, competitions, meetings, graduations,  church activities, the list goes on and on.  I was impressed that we made it where we needed to be.

Meg and Kiersten showing me some of their playground tricks at school.

Meg and Kiersten riding their scooters around as they wait for their ride to school.  We ended up missing Meg's preschool graduation (my opinion, cute but not much of an accomplishment) and end of school program, but aren't they cute.

Kate had a band concert at the middle school, Trevor had an ROTC awards program at the high school cafeteria and Sariah had a drama awards program at the high school auditorium all at the same time.  It was time to divide and conquer.  The middle school was closer to the house and would be done sooner so Richard went there and I went to the high school for their ceremonies.  I talked to the drama teacher and she was able to tell me about when to be there to see Sariah get her awards.  The ROTC people like give inspirational talks and I felt bad leaving and re-entering in the middle of it all, but I think I managed to see most of  their awards.  I'm proud of them!  The pictures are pretty awful, but here are a couple.

Sariah getting her award pictures and a very blurry glimpse of her doing her monologue.

Trev getting an award and then showing off a different one at the ROTC awards ceremony.

Sariah graduating from high school.

On May 18th Sariah graduated from both high school and seminary.  We were hoping to leave that evening but Sariah spoke at seminary graduation and it got over quite late.  Luckily we had figured this would happen so we picked up the U-haul for the things we were dropping off in Utah Monday morning and loaded it then.  I ended leaving around noon.   Several times I was about to bail on visiting family.  Sariah and Trevor had summer plans that made it necessary for us to be back the first week of June and this drive by myself with six kids on a tight schedule seemed daunting. 
See that little sign. 6,311 miles in 92 hours of driving time.  And that is without any stops.  We were going to have to stop. To gas up and go potty.  And, spoiler alert, sometimes to go potty again just 17 miles after stopping to get gas.  Just in case you are worried about me, there is no need.  My kids are great on a road trip and I am not too shabby myself.

Next up The Insanity Begins:  Biloxi to Lincoln, NE

Gingerbread Houses 2013

It's Christmas.  I placed this little train that was among Grandma's things on my mantle.  It makes me happy.  I even love the little shadow behind it.

This week we made gingerbread houses.  Several of them were baked a couple weeks ago and the rest on Saturday.  Candy and other decor was picked out (sorry Kate we couldn't find neccos)  and then....

Sunday after church we started by playing games while Richard took a nap.   Kate and Meg (with a smattering of Kiersten) played break the ice, while Trudy and the other kids played The Case of the Missing Mummy.  The big kids all rolled their eyes, but ended up having a lot of fun even though the game was a bit too easy.  We have come up with some alternate plans to make it more difficult the next time around.  Then Richard played Chris's favorite game, Quests of the Round Table with him while preparations were finished. At some point he ended up on the phone with his parents.  Hi!

 

Kate and Sariah helped me assemble the house walls and then helped Meg and Kiersten decorate their house.  They loved it and it was literally the best idea ever to have them do theirs first.  They felt so special. They are pretty special.  When Kate was ready to be done helping them and wanted to get to work on her own house she announced "you're done,"  and started clapping and dancing.  They joined in and declared the house done.  Genius!

 Then the rest of the kids got to work.  I was surprised that even  those who seemed ambivalent about making gingerbread houses were involved and loving it.  It melted my heart to see them all loving each others work. There was a little drama.

We had Christmas music going and at one point Richard grabbed me, threw my arms around his neck and started dancing.



Chris was horrified.  And embarrassed.  I am not sure which was the primary emotion. And when Richard kissed me.....



...he fled.  I managed to convince him that we were normal and let the little girls have their turn dancing with dad and he was able to bring himself to stay.  I think he may have liked it a little; just look at that blurry smile.  He might no mind the way we (mis)behave sometimes.




 And now for the masterpieces.

Sariah's was the most intricate. Red hots everywhere, on the roof fences and paths.  Is it because they are pretty or because they are her favorite candy?

 

Trevor had a river a bridge and torches by the front door.  Love it.  And the glasses.  He is so cute, I just want to be an annoying elderly aunt from the storybooks and  pinch his cheeks.

Chris really wants to eat his.  And just look at his forest and gardens.

Kate had a well, mint cobblestone sidewalk and a fully decorated interior with a fireplace, tree, presents and a family.

 

The babies loved their house.  It started out with a full roof, but they wanted to be able to put their gingerbread people in and out so they took half off and made a backyard.

 Here is the whole village.
 

Sick kids.  Sometimes I don't know if I feel worse for the child or the parents.  Especially when they are contagious but not feeling particularly ill.  Being cooped up for almost two weeks isn't much fun for anyone.  Luckily(or not) I have some creative kids with some blossoming communication and decision making skills.

Kiersten came running up to me (not sick enough to be content with a couch, a blanket, and (the bane of my existance and the manna of her's) the pacifier) proclaiming

"Meagan and me want to walk away."

I just looked perplexed.  Huh.  "What?"

"We want to walk away to the park.  We won't touch anything."

Still perplexed "Walk away."

"It's like run away. Meg saided to me that if we runned away we would be like this,"  huffing and puffing and bent over at the waist miming exhaustion, "and then we wouldn't have much fun at the park."

I think I was still looking perplexed.  And I was at a loss for words.

"We can walk and walk and walk and walk and not get tired.  We are good walkers. So we want to walk away to the park.  But you have to come so the police* don't come get us."

Meagan shows up about now.  "We won't touch anything so our friends won't get sick."

"What will  you do if you can't touch anythings?"

She sits there and thinks, and thinks some more.  Then she gives a disgusted sigh and walks out.  "Kiersten I guess we can't walk away.  Let's color."

*Meagan has experience with the police.  On some Saturday mornings I go to distrubute food to those in need.  One particular week I took Richard with me and we left the kids home,  Sariah was babysitting and cuddling with Kiersten while Meg played in the back yard.  A neighbor saw her leave the back yard, not the first time**,  and called the police, they waited until they came to do anything.  The police knocked on the door.  When the MP's called me it was clear they were more annoyed with the neighbor than with us.  Me too.  Sariah was much more traumatized than Meg, and Meg now believes that I am telling the truth when my reason for not doing something is because the police might come.  

** She is an escape artist, and has been able to scale a fence like this for two years now.  Luckily she doesn't like to leave her sister, who has no desire to try and scale a fence, behind.  Last year I was doing laundry and the girls wanted to play in the backyard.  I thought it was a good idea and let them out, set and alarm for five minutes, opened the blinds and positioned myself so I could watch them.  They were having a grand time.  I sprinted hither and yon putting laundry away and checked on them when the alarm went off , reset it and repeated.   About the third time the alarm went off there were no kids in sight.  Aaagh.  I called for them.  No response.  The three 50 pound bags of sand we had blocking the gate so it couldn't be opened by a three year old had been moved.  I called for them again and then went and looked up and down the street in the directions we went to go to friends and the pool.  No little girls.  My heart was doing somersaults.   I grabbed my bike and started around the block, up and down the street, checking back at the house.  No girls anywhere.

Finally I hear a squeaky little voice.  "Wait for me Meg."  I run behind the house and see two little partners in crime walking up the sidewalk behind the house carrying frogs.

Resin yard frogs.  I would have preferred the live version.  They were stealing 'friends' from some unknown location.  "Where did you get those I asked," pointing to the resin frogs, one clutched in Kiersten's grubby little hands and two others tucked into Meg's arms like innocent newborn babies.

"Over there," she says using some form of toddler body language that completely mystified me.  "That is Kiersten's friend, ____, and these are my friends ___ & _____.  I need two cause I am biggerest."   I don't know if the names were so unremarkable as to be forgettable or if I subconsciously decided they were unimportant in the grand scheme of things and  relegated them to obscurity.  Either way they were named and I didn't care.

"Where did you get them from?"  She started walking to where she found these little 'friends''

"Why did you go this way?" I asked.

"Cause we never go this way so I didn't think you would ever look for us.  You would look there, and there but not here."  At least she is honest.

You would think that once I found my little girls the worst of this incident would be over.  But no.  We were walking directly over to the generals' homes.  My little girls (sweet and innocent were not adjectives I was using) had stolen frogs from the house directly accross the street from the generals.  No doubt they would have stolen directly from the general if he only had cutesy little creatures in his yard.  And the MP's were driving by.  As nonchalantly as possible I replaced the creatures, and herded my little creatures back home.   All the while Meg is talking.

"I like climbing fences.  I didn't plan to go over, but once I got to the top I just did.  Kiersten would be sad if I didn't help her.  It's not so fun to play alone.  The bags were heavy.  I couldn't lift them.." grunting and exertions noises, " so I had to do this."  She pantomimes bracing her legs  and pulling and then pushing with her whole body.  "It was hard work. I fell and fell and fell.  I needed lots of my muscles.  I was scared I might need more muscles like Chris or Trev.  That would make Kiersten sad.  Then I opened the gate and Kiersten wasn't sad.  I forgetted the rules till then and  I didn't want you to be mad and sad so went that way where you wouldn't look. And the police didn't see me so you won't get in trouble."

I was still at a loss for words.  And actions.  I don't quite remember what happened.  I don't think she has ever climbed the fence back into the yard.  That would be easier.  Somehow the grass is only greener on the outside.  By the way that is the only time she has left the backyard after promising not to.  Before or since.  Somehow her   The rules are just there to keep her safe and my fingers are crossed that they do.  I worry a bit though as her ability to find adventure is more creative than the rules that limit her. As long as there are safe  I don't mind my heart doing flip flops.  And they learned a little lesson on stealing, something I hadn't really covered in depth with my 2 &3 year olds up to this point.

I wrote this several weeks ago, but wanted to add pictures before I published it.   For now it will have to do as is.

My Two Little Girls

Sometimes I think (know) I am too old to be a mother to two toddlers.  They are like energizer bunnies.  I can relate to everyone one of these commercials, and even empathize with the villains. I have no evil plots aimed at them, and I don't try to be the villain; but their energy, almost without fail, outlasts mine.  And many of my plans for them(us) fall by the wayside because I run out of energy just before they are about to come to fruition.




On the other hand they have each other which leads to some moments that they wouldn't have if I were always with them.  This morning (as I lay in my bed) I heard this conversation

Kiersten:  "I did it.  I did it."

Footsteps running.

Meg: "You did it, Kiersten.  Good job sis.  I am so happy for you. I am proud of you.  You are such a good little sister...."

This was repeated and interspersed with cheers, dancing, singing and squeals of delight.

A minute later...Meg:  "What did you do?"

Kiersten: " I don't memember."

More cheers, dancing, singing and squeals of delight.


At times like this I am glad I am just tired enough to not rush out and that at times like this I get to be a passive observer of my little girls.  And I am grateful for the five more minutes I get to spend curled up in my bed.  I wish I didn't like my bed so much, but I do.  It is really, really comfortable.

 Kiersten today in the car on the way to a church activity:  "Take a picture of my smile."  She also insisted on wearing her headband as a choker.  "I needs to be so cute mommy."

Meg after refusing to let me take a picture "Oooooh Kay."  Deep sigh.  "I guess you can take a picture of me thinking about letting you take a picture."  Wet hair and all she worked hard to think long enough for a few pictures and declared she was done with both thinking and taking pictures.

Thanksgiving Continued

 Just before Richard's parents came for Thanksgiving we found out that Kimberly (Richard's sister)  had her twin boys who were 8 weeks early.  It brought back memories of when Sariah was born 6 weeks early.  I quickly threw these NICU gowns together to send to her so she would know we were thinking of her, Jon, Arthor and Weston.  I found the pattern here.  It is a gown that is designed for babies 3-8 pounds.

 Meagan always want to be in the pictures.  In this case you can see how tiny these are.  They wouldn't even go around her 3 year old thigh.   You can also see that even in November we have swimsuit weather.  Sort of.  Meagan was sure it was warm enough to wear this swimsuit outside, and she was right as long as she stayed dry.  Unfortunately that was the case a few days later when Deanna and George arrived.  By then it was definitely jacket/coat weather.

 While Richard's parent were here we went to Christmas at Beauvoir and had a nice time.  I didn't understand the settings on our camera so the pictures are few and not very good, but the lights were pretty and the house was beautiful.

 They had a live band that played big band music along with old-time radio type narration and props.  It was very fun, and Deanna and George graced us with their dancing. 

 Saint Nick was their as well and gave a jumbo jingle bell on a beautiful printed ribbon to everyone who sat on his lap.  Chris even whispered what he want for Christmas in his ear.

 Deanna really wanted a bell too so she  sat on his knee and whispered something shocking into his ear.  I still don't know what she could have possibly whispered.

 We all took a picture at the end.  That is Chris's friend Isaac with us.

 Afterwards we dropped off Chris and Isaac and went to eat at Mary Mahoney's Old French house.  It's not a french restaurant, but a house/boarding house that dates back to about 1737.  The portraits behind us are of Mary and Bob Mahoney, not Napoleon and Josephine.
 

 We left on Monday to head to Louisville and made it a two day trip. Meagan and Kiersten rode the luggage cart up along with all our suitcases.

 The next day we went Corinth Mississippi civil war museum.  Here are Trevor, Sariah, Kiersten and Kate following the soldiers in the door.

 Meagan and Kate with a canon.  If you zoom in on this photo you can see one of Meagan's million facial expressions.

 For a short while Richard had the camera and so you get to see me in the background with Kate and Meagan.  We are working on getting the Junior Range Badge.  All the blocks in the water feature represent a different battle in the civil war and the size represents the fatalities of that battle.  Kiersten is the the foreground as cute as ever.  In case you are wondering the kids all earned their junior ranger badges.

 Next we went to Shiloh where Trevor is making sure his uniform is up to snuff.

 I think maybe he should have checked the lower half of it.  Other than that he looks pretty sharp.

 At Shiloh they also earned their Junior ranger Badges. The day was beautiful.  The entire site was breathtaking both in the natural beauty and the scope and documentation of the awful battles that took place there.

 For thanksgiving Kate and Emily made this relish tray with me acting as soux chef (ie vegetable cutter/carver.)  It turned out beautifully.

 

Not as beautiful as these two girls. Their only disappointment was that it wasn't gobbled up.   I think it was because it was too pretty and not right next to the turkey

or turducken as the case may be.  Here is a picture of our cooked turducken.  For Christmas we are having a smoked one.  I'll try to get some pictures of it sliced then.

 And here is the derby pie.  It turned out so pretty in Elizabeth's pretty pie plate.

 Hey! What do you think you're doing?

 Here is a picture of the mustard ring that is a recipe from Richard's Grandma.  For Christmas I'll actually make it a ring. It is one of my favorite holiday recipes.  Another dish I love is stuffing, but I learned this year I don't like stove-top or any other stuffing mix stuffing.  I thought it would do in a pinch, but it didn't.  I even bought one that was more expensive and looked higher quality and it just didn't cut it.  Homemade or nothing for me from now on.

 Here is the crew eating dinner

The next day we made gingerbread houses.  Here are the Beaches working on theirs/

 And the Bucks.  I tried getting pictures of the Sanders working on theirs, but they didn't turn out.  At all.  I think it was the windows that messed me up and my usual adjustment didn't work.  And I didn't check that I had a good picture before I stopped.

 Here are the finished houses.  Sanders, Beach, Buck.

 Playing games with Meg and Kiersten.  Aunt Elisabeth is so much fun.

 The birthday boys.  Trevor blows out his candles

 and then  waits patiently for Kade.  Who wasn't slow.  Trevor is just fast at getting relaxed.

These glasses from Christmas at Beauvoir are a hit around our house.  When it's dark and you look at lights you can see stars, reindeer, snowmen or something else depending on which pair you wear.  And if you tilt you head from side to side with the snowman glasses it looks like the snowmen are dancing and is entertaing to those watching you .