Utahhhhh

The week after girls camp, we packed up the family and headed to Utah. 

1. To drop Charlie and Julia off at EFY. 

2. To spend the week doing fun stuff with the younger three kids.

3. To pick Kate up in between terms so she could come home for Nora's baptism. 

I was not a very good picture taker. That is sad. So my oldest three aren't in these pictures at all. Maybe Jeff took some. But he doesn't share. Just kidding. I didn't ask. 

 I did get a picture of Kate's dorm from the outside looking in. What is the point of that when there are no people in it? I have no idea.

We hiked the Y though, and I made sure to document it. Its a big rock Y on the side of the hill overlooking Provo and BYU. It felt like a million degrees. It probably wasn't. We just aren't use to being that close to the sun where we come from.

So breathtaking. I really do love Utah. I have lived there 7 years total in my life. And the place just holds a special place in my heart.

We also hit two great food places that our friends recommended. One had amazing philly cheesesteaks. And I don't even like philly cheesesteak.

 The other was Ruby snap cookies. Yum. Yum. Double Yum.

And finally this gal. We've been besties since 1992. And we don't look a day older. Ha! Ok, we don't look more than a year older. Ok,we don't look more than a decade older. Ok, well at least will always be young at heart:)

Things I wish I had taken pictures of:

-7 peaks water park with my family.

-Eden, Ut. Fun little town in the mountains. The lake was pretty great and our time share was beautiful and had the best pool ever. 

-Our friends Cindy and Fred. Two of the best people on the planet. Did I take even one picture? No. 

-BYU. Any part of it. Not counting Kate's dorm room looking in. 

-Kate!

-Charlie!

-Julia!

I love my family though and it was so great to have the 8 of us back together. Even for a little bit. How many more times will I be forced to say that the rest of my life? Don't answer that. 

Girls Camp 2016 Adventure Awaits

 Ah girls camp. The best place to be as a youth leader for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. Its made even better for me by the fact that I get to go with my girls. Last year I had Kate, Julia and Anne Marie, which was amazing. With Kate gone Julia and Anne Marie and I held the fort down and made our own memories. Which included the 2nd year hike. Anne Marie was a second year and Julia was a YCL (youth camp leader) over the 2nd years. So we went with her on her hike and had a great time.

Anne Marie rocked it again at repelling. She has an adventurous side that I adore.

Julia and her friend Hannah-I have no memory of what they are doing here. I think they are eating the fishy crackers that I always bring to camp. Funny how something like fishy crackers tastes sooooo good when you are away from home.

And the reality of girls camp. Tears. Some frustration. I locked myself in the walk in cooler and had a good cry. Then took a picture to send to Jeff so that he could get a glimpse of the affect a week away from home does to me;)

I work with two Rachels. This is one of them. The other one is equally awesome but I didn't get a picture of her sadly. These two make my life better, and more fun.

Anne Marie ran in the triathalon again this year. Her team came in 2nd, I think. But they were the 1st finishers of the all girl team. The first place team had a 6 foot 5 priesthood leader who did the running leg. So, sorry, but it doesn't count;)

And the day after camp, leaving straight for Utah for family vacation. It was an EXHAUSTING two weeks and I was glad to be home at the end of it. But super rewarding and fun. Can't wait til next year.

Miss Nora

 Sweet little Nora was born 8 years ago. Finding out I was pregnant with her was the biggest surprise and turned out to be such a wonderful blessing. She is a smart, funny, adorable little girl who truly brightens the lives of everyone she knows. This past year has been the year of Harry Potter for her. She read the first 5 books before she turned 8 and is now finishing the 7th. She loves Harry and Hermione and Ron and Luna Lovegood most of all. So what else do you do for a Harry Potter fan who is turning 8 but to have a Harry Potter Party?

Luckily for her, Julia is an amazing artist and so Nora awoke to a picture of her favorite hero. 

She also genuinely dreams of being a quidditch player. So I was not surprised at all when she asked for a quidditch uniform. Not a costume, because then that would make it make believe. And we all know that Harry Potter is a real person;)

This thing was a labor of love. Yes, that is a golden snitch pinata. Yes, I am the best mom in the world. 

And what is a Harry Potter birthday party without a Happee Birthdae Harry cake?

Some very exciting things happen in our family when you turn 8. If you are a girl you get your ears pierced. Yay! And boy or girl, when you turn 8 you are baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. Nora was so happy to be baptized. She waited an extra month to do it so that Kate would be home between terms at BYU. The spirit was so strong at her baptism. Her siblings all sang and it was beautiful for this mama to have her baby in her little white dress sitting next to her while her older children sang like angels. Life is so good. 

I highly recommend having six children if you don't already. I know it seems like a big number, but your heart and your mind and your capabilities all grow to meet the challenge. Marrying Jeff and having these 6 children have been the 7 best decisions I have ever made.

Now some lovely things about Nora, because she is so lovely.

1. Nora is always happy. Always. People say that and don't mean it. But I mean it. Because its true. Sure she gets annoyed at her siblings sometimes, but she literally runs around the house singing and laughing and bringing joy.

2. Nora is incredibly smart. The world just makes sense to her, math included. She is bright and capable and so fun to talk to.

3. She loves candy. She probably asks for it every day. Her dad is the same way. Inherited or learned, I'm not sure, but perhaps she has a sweetness quotient that the rest of us don't.  Either way the girl loves sugar.

4. Puppies. Who doesn't love a puppy? But do you have a million stuffed little puppy dogs, do you have a puppy calendar and a puppy poster? And do you ask your mom at least once a week what kind of dog we are going to get when we buy a house? I didn't think so. But Nora, puppies are her thing.

5. Friends. Almost every day after school, "Mom can I have a play date with....." insert friend's name. She loves her friends. She is very loyal and forgiving and enjoys being with them. I think she is a very good friend to many, so she has many friends. Its a talent I believe.

6. Gluten free. Nora cannot eat gluten. None. Not even a tiny spec. But we have lots of her favorite things that are gluten free in our pantry, ready to go. She has a good attitude about it, even when it can be hard to watch other kids eat a cupcake and you have your gluten free cookie that mom sent from home:( She handles it better than I do.

7. Shoes, and clothes and sparkly things are her favorite. (besides candy). She loves pretty things to wear and bright happy colors, kind of like her mom :0

8. Snuggler extraordinaire. Seriously she could teach a class on giving good hugs. She hugs me a million times a day ( if I don't hug her first). She hugs all of her siblings. I think she lives off of them. The rest of us need air, Nora needs hugs. And once you have experienced one of her hugs, you realize you need them too:)

Happy Birthday sweet Nora. I am so glad you came to our family 8 years ago.

My heart, it is a breakin

I have been trying in vain to not think too much about how our lives are going to change soon. Only because if I think about it too long I start to cry.  And my mascara is expensive so I don't want to reapply.

Kate is leaving in a month to go to BYU. She is going to be amazing and do amazing things and experience amazing things.  And I could not be happier for her. She has worked hard and earned this moment. Even though she already knew she got in to BYU, we still gave her a surprise party. Cuz we're fun like that. Jeff's cousin is an amazing baker and he sent us these cookies to help with the surprise.

I have been trying to soak up every moment with her.  I have always been like that as a mom, all too aware how quickly it goes. I love being a mom, I love being her mom and I am so thankful for every day I have had with her. I would honestly shave my head, or eat cooked liver, or do a polar dip, just to be able to go back and spend one more day with her as a little girl.  (Those were the worst things I could imagine).  But what a blessing to know her as an adult and get to experience that as well.

She is an amazing sister, unifying everyone and connecting us with her unique gift of get-along-with-everbody-ness.

And oh the joy of watching her and Julia be best friends since birth.  What a gift to both of them and to me. They have had a friend everywhere they have ever moved.

I know I am not the first or the last parent to ever send a child out in to the world.  But its a first for me. Check back soon for more blubbering as we all adjust to our new normal. Only 5 kids at home. What will I do with all my time')

Winter Camp

Julia and Anne Marie and I had a unique opportunity to go camping in the winter. Well, mostly Anne Marie. We got to spend the night in snow caves that the Young Women of our Stake dug themselves. Well, mostly Anne Marie.  As a leader I had the choice to sleep in a cabin on a mattress.  Which is what I chose.  Not because I'm afraid of the cold but because I'm afraid of snow caving in on me and extinguishing my life.  Julia and Jeff ( who came up with a bunch of other dads and leaders to help out) ended up sleeping in the back of Jeff's car. But 12 year old Anne Marie and her brave friend lasted the whole night. Amazing.

Some of the women leaders toughed it out in snow caves.  We really did try and make sure any young woman who wanted to had the opportunity to sleep in a snow structure.  If there were any left over, some brave women snuggled into the snow and were actually able to sleep.  Those of us in the cabin woke up to find every inch of floor space, and the chairs and furniture, covered with young women who became too cold and found their way to the warmth of the heated cabin.  It was a super fun activity and once again these girls learned they can do hard things and that some of their leaders aren't as tough;)  But the 70 pound little girl was the winner of the weekend.  She toughed it out and had a great time too. Love my girls and I am so grateful so spend time with them. Even if it's in the bitter,snowy cold. 

Thank you kids and good friends who are more organized

I was at the gym when I got a text from my friend,"Is Nora a thank you kid?" Um, what?

I had no idea what she was talking about. But she quickly filled me in on the fact that I was missing an assembly where Nora and other children were being honored for their great behavior. 

And at some point a note came home that I never saw. 

So sweaty and all the way across town, I hopped in my car and rushed over, calling Jeff and letting him know to get over there as fast as possible. We both made it. Just barely. 

I would do anything for my kids. Including showing up in public looking like a sweaty mess. Because she doesn't care what I looked like. She just knows I was there.

A senior

It really isn't possible to describe what it feels like.

You have a baby. A beautiful, red headed little girl who instantly becomes your whole world. 

And you are tired and unsure of yourself as a parent. But you know that if love is the most important ingredient for being a good parent, then you are golden.

And you cannot possibly imagine, as you try to figure out what year she will graduate and that you will be 42 when she does, that the day will come upon you before you are ready. And before you are done hearing her voice every day or before you are ready to not have her right down the hall, she will suddenly be an adult and ready to leave home.

You will find yourself happy for her because it is the natural order of things. But you will find yourself tearing up as she orders her cap and gown. You will cry when you see her senior pictures. You will DARE her to even mention that it's her last Thanksgiving before she leaves on her mission.

She will bring things up about moving out because she needs closure and she needs to know you really will miss her as much as you say you will. But part of her also loves seeing you get emotional and cry because it means that she is that special to you, that important.

Back when you held her in your arms for the first time and through the sleepless nights as she cried, no one could have ever told you that it would be over in a blink. At least not in a way that you would believe it.

But it's true. Believe me. Enjoy every hard moment. Every pair of mismatched socks, every bad dream where they want to crawl into bed with you. Eventually they will stop asking to get in bed with you. Eventually they will not need you to brush their hair or give them a bath. Eventually they will apply to college and plan their life and be ready to be on their own.

We always need our parents. We are always grateful that they are there for us. But it changes and it's supposed to and it is really, really hard. 

So enjoy the fact that the kids need all of our extra money and time and effort. Because one day we will wish with all our hearts for just one more day of it. 

She will sit and apply to her school of choice and be so excited for the next phase of her life and you will just want one more day.

 One more day of her being a tiny little girl who wraps her arms around your neck and doesn't want to let go. Because now it's your turn to never want to let go. 

And she will have to peel me off of her just like I did with her everytime I had to leave the house. I will cry and perhaps wail just like she did. 

The joys and sorrows of parenthood. I wouldn't change it for anything. And I can't, cuz I "get" to do this 5 more times. 

*sigh*

Evening on Sobway I mean Broadway

Kate and Julia performed in the Chamber Choirs annual evening on Broadway. It was amazing. Kate had a senior solo and sang a song from Little Women called Astonishing. She was, it was, amazing and astonishing. Her father and I cried through the whole thing.

 I had listened to her rehearse at home and it was beautiful. And then when she performed it was as if something lit upon her and she sang it/belted it like I've never heard before. It still gives me chills when I think of it.

Then they sang a duet. For Good from Wicked. More crying from me, them and people in the audience. Two sisters, best friends, one getting ready to leave home in the next year. Exactly. This mama could hardly stand it. It was beautiful.

Of course there were other kids there who also did a great job. 

But the highlight for us was our girls. I will never forget it.

Not as long as I live.

Trying something new

IJulia decided that this was her year to play a sport. She participated in the triathlon at girls camp this summer and it lit the running and swimming bug for her.

So she ran during the summer and then when school started she joined the swim team.

Her goal was to just improve, beat her own time and do something different. She accomplished all of those things.

We were really proud of her as she shaved seconds off her time, improved her starts and got to know more girls from school. I can't imagine deciding to join the swim team as a junior in high school. It was so adventurous of her. 

My kids inspire me all the time. They have shown me again and again that you don't have to be afraid. The world is it there to enjoy and explore and to have new experiences. 

Some, like swimming, I will have to take their word for it. But we all can find ways to expand our view to include things we have never done before. 

Otherwise what's the point? 

And to illustrate that I give you "I lived" byOne Republic 

http://youtu.be/z0rxydSolwU